FERRARI AT MUGELLO AND FIORANO

Ferrari has continued its heavy testing schedule to prepare for Suzuka. On
Tuesday Michael Schumacher was at Mugello carrying out set-up and
aerodynamic work in addition to tyre testing. He completed 76 laps (best 1m
27.611s). Meanwhile Luca Badoer doing set-up work and testing components
for next year. He achieved 98 laps for a best of 1m 01.962s.

On Wednesday morning Schumacher was back at Fiorano where he took over
Badoer's car in the morning, completing 37 laps (best 1m 01.265s) and in
the afternoon ran three of the four standard wheelbase cars which are being
sent to Japan. Meanwhile Irvine was running at Mugello where he did 80 laps
for a best of 1m 27.327s.. On Thursday Irvine was in Fiorano to do 30 laps
(best 1m 01.133s). during the course of which he executed ten practice
starts. The fourth car to be sent to Japan will be tested by Badoer at
Fiorano. Meanwhile the Italian driver continues testing of components for
the 1999 car today (Friday) at Fiorano and again tomorrow.


McLAREN AT SILVERSTONE

David Coulthard and Mika Hakkinen shook down the McLaren team's four
MP4/13s in preparation for the Japanese GP at Silverstone on Monday when
Coulthard set the fastest time of 1m 26.25s. Hakkinen posted a 1m 27.50s
and a team insider admitted that McLaren was feeling "very
positive" about the final race.

During the test fresh gearboxes for the race weekend were fitted, then
bedded in by the two drivers. Last minute testing took place at the Santa
Pod drag strip on Wednesday.


FINAL SHAKEDOWN FOR WILLIAMS

The Williams team took a single FW20 to Silverstone on Monday and Tuesday
in order to carry out a two-pronged programme. On Monday test driver Max
Wilson covered 48 laps for a best time of 1m 17.19s while carrying out
development work in preparation for next season, while on Tuesday Jacques
Villeneuve completed 47 laps for a fastest of 1m 26.94s while carrying out
final set-up work for the Japanese Grand Prix. "The test has gone
pretty well for us," said Williams test team manager Bryan Lambert.
"We have achieved all we set out to achieve and are looking forward to
a good fight at Suzuka."


HILL DOES TWO DAYS FOR JORDAN

Damon Hill completed two days of testing for the Jordan Mugen-Honda squad
at Silverstone on Monday and Tuesday. On the first day Hill concentrated
specifically on assessing engine improvements and developing the car's
aerodynamics. He completed 76 laps for a best of 1m 26.86s, which was
second quickest of the day, despite the programme being held up during the
afternoon due to rain showers and an engine problem.

On Tuesday Hill covered 70 laps for a best of 1m 27.14s, losing time with a
wheel bearing problem and also a quick spin after which he stalled the
engine but the car sustained no damage.


SINGLE DAY TEST FOR BENETTON

The Benetton-Playlife team carried out a single day's testing at
Silverstone on Tuesday as a final shakedown for the Japanese Grand Prix.
Giancarlo Fisichella covered 50 laps for a best of 1m 27.488s while
Alexander Wurz managed 57 laps with a fastest of 1m 28.226s. During the
morning the team concentrated on set-up work and tyre assessment while in
the afternoon they carried out refuelling practice.


SAUBER AT MUGELLO

The Sauber-Petronas team ran a car for Jean Alesi this week at Mugello. On
Tuesday he managed 39 laps (best 1m 28.940s) but could only manage 16 laps
on Wednesday (best 1m 29.00s) due to a gearbox problem.


MINARDI TO TEST YOUNG DRIVERS

The Minardi team has just shipped three cars and 15 tons of equipment to
Japan. The team will take part in the Bridgestone 1999 tyre test on Tuesday
and Wednesday following the Suzuka race but the new tyres will be in short
supply and Minardi will only get three sets. From 1-4 December Minardi will
test young drivers at Barcelona including Spain's Marc Gene and the winner
of the Italian F3 Championship which has yet to be settled.


TYRRELL: FINAL CHAPTER

The Tyrrell team is preparing for the final chapter of its history which
began in 1968 with a Matra chassis. Tyrrell has won 33 Grands Prix, three
drivers' championships and one constructors' title. For this final outing
the team is relying on the Suzuka knowledge of Toranosuke Takagi.


INTERIM CHASSIS FOR PROST

The Prost team has decided to race its AP101B development chassis at Suzuka
using the new A18 Peugeot engine and new gearbox. The revised car passed
the FIA crash test successfully on Tuesday. It will be driven by Jarno
Trull who won the drive over Olivier Panis when the two drivers tossed a
franc coin.


STEWART AT SILVERSTONE

Rubens Barrichello spent Monday and Tuesday testing a new rear suspension
and the Series 6 version of the Ford V10 engine in his Stewart SF02 at
Silverstone. On Tuesday he set the fastest time of the day in 1m 26.50s
which prompted a team member to comment that the team had certainly made
significant improvements since the Luxembourg GP. On Tuesday Barrichello
had the company of fellow Brazilian Mario Haberfeld who continued the 1999
car's electronics development programme. Stewart has confirmed it will be
present at the Bridgestone test after the Suzuka race.


ARROWS SHAKEDOWN

Mika Salo was the sole Arrows driver present at Silverstone on Tuesday to
shakedown the three A19 chassis which will be going to Suzuka. The D-spec
V10 engine will be used in qualifying and possibly in the race. No decision
has yet been made as to who will replace Pedro Diniz next season.

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