McLaren ponder upgrade

New fin engine cover performs well in testing

Last updated: 14th July 2008

heikki kovalainen mclaren 5/7/2008

Kovalainen: encouraged by test results

The new top body engine cover has been designed to improve aero performance, particularly through high-speed corners - and we feel it had an advantage during the Hockenheim test.

Heikki Kovalainen
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McLaren could arrive at Hockenheim sporting the new fin engine cover after an "encouraging" test at the German track last week.

Already this season Red Bull, Renault, Force India and Toro Rosso have all used the aerodynamic design in grands prix while McLaren and Toyota tested it for the first time last week.

McLaren's test produced positive results with the Woking team taking the top spot on the timesheets on days one and two.

However, whether McLaren opt to use it at this weekend's German GP could depend on the weather report as Heikki Kovalainen says the design is affected by strongwinds, which are common at Hockenheim.

"The new top body engine cover has been designed to improve aero performance, particularly through high-speed corners - and we feel it had an advantage during the Hockenheim test," the Finn said.

"But it's still too early to say; maybe Hockenheim is not the best place to try this new wing and we need to see if it is affected by crosswinds - it was quite windy at the Hockenheim test, but we didn't seem to be too affected by the wind.

"It's definitely encouraging for the future."