Pre-Suzuka test buoys McLaren

(20-Oct-98) - McLaren have given another warning to Ferrari that it will
not be a push-over at the Japanese Grand Prix.

David Coulthard and Mika Hakkinen have set some stunning times at a tyre
test in Barcelona where they were evaluating rubber for the final race of
the season. Bridgestone are said to have found as much as a second a lap in
a new tyre.

Coulthard set the fastest time of the test last week, lapping 0.1s beneath
Hakkinen's pole position time from the Spanish Grand Prix in May.

The Scot repeatedly set laps in the 1m20's, with a best of 1m20.161s.
Hakkinen managed a 1m20.782s.

Coulthard said that McLaren was extremely encouraged by the work it has done

"We've come up with a new tyre for Suzuka." said the Scot.
"It's working well and we've done lots of quick laps. I really think
we've done everything we can."

Benetton and Prost were also at Barcelona. Giancarlo Fisichella and
Alexander Wurz were two seconds slower than Coulthard until rallying on the
final day. Prost was evaluating its B-spec car.

--- Msged/386 4.20 beta 4