McLAREN SETS SILVERSTONE PACE

The McLaren-Mercedes team got the best from its Bridgestone rubber at
Silverstone on Wednesday and Thursday when Mika Hakkinen set the pace in
the pre-British Grand Prix tests. On Wednesday the Finn completed 24 laps
for a best of 1m 26.09s and then trimmed that to 1m 25.42s on Thursday when
he also completed a simulated race distance. David Coulthard managed 44
laps on Wednesday for a best of 1m 26.73s and improved to 1m 26.32s the
following day. Test driver Ricardo Zonta was also present to carry out pit
stop practice now that problems with the team's refuelling rigs - which
blighted Coulthard's race at Magny-Cours - have hopefully been rectified.
McLaren will remain at Silverstone until the end of Friday.


FERRARI SET-UP WORK FOR SCHUMACHER

After its previous Silverstone test was spoiled by bad weather, this week
the Ferrari team was able to concentrate on developing a dry set-up and
deciding on tyres for the British Grand Prix. Apart from a gearbox problem
on Michael's car there seemed to be no other worries for the German apart
from the fact that the McLaren seemed to be very strong on this type of
circuit. On Friday a long run is planned for Schumacher. On Wednesday
Schumacher did 39 laps(fastest 1m 27.423s) and Eddie Irvine completed 55
laps(best 1m 27.642s). On Thursday Irvine posted second fastest time of 1m
26.170s, bettered only by Hakkinen on the day, while Schumacher did 1m
26.368s. Today(Friday) the team hopes to try new Goodyear tyres and also a
modified front wing. After the British GP the team intends to test a longer
wheelbase chassis at Monza.


THREE DRIVERS FOR JORDAN AT SILVERSTONE

The Jordan team began testing at Silverstone on Wednesday in conditions
which gradually became warmer after starting off rather cool and overcast.
Damon Hill and Ralf Schumacher were joined by test driver Pedro de la Rosa
at the start of a three day programme. Hill completed 52 laps with a best
time of 1m 28.07s, concentrating on sorting out a good handling balance
from the latest aerodynamic package - including sidepods, undertray and
barge boards - but was running on old tyres from Magny-Cours. Schumacher
completed 48 laps for a best of 1m 28.38s, mainly working on chassis
development - dampers, springs and roll bar settings - also with old tyres,
and his progress was briefly interrupted with a differential problem. De la
Rosa only covered 14 laps due to a gearbox problem and concentrated on
engine development work for a best time of 1m 31.78s. On Thursday Ralf
Schumacher completed 74 laps for a best of 1m 27.15s, concentrating on
chassis set-up work while also doing some practice starts. Damon Hill
covered 71 laps for a best of 1m 27.42s concentrating on set-up and tyre
comparisons, whle Pedro de la Rosa managed 48 laps for a best of 1m 28.72s
carrying out Mugen-Honda engine development work. All three cars ran
reliably.


BENETTONS START STRONGLY

The Benetton-Playlife team started its three day Silverstone test on a
strong note when Giancarlo Fisichella and Alexander Wurz set third and
fifth fastest testing times during Wednesday's testing session during which
they both focused on general set-up, mechanical and aerodynamic work.
Fisichella covered 33 laps for a best time of 1m 27.31s while Wurz did 19
laps with a fastest of 1m 27.43s. On Thursday, during the morning session
Fisichella focused on suspension work while Wurz was occupied with brake
evaluation. In the afternoon they concentrated on a tyre development
programme with Fisichella covering a total of 36 laps for a best time of 1m
26.606s and Wurz doing 52 laps for 1m 27.262s.


ROUTINE WORK FOR WILLIAMS

Jacques Villeneuve and Heinz-Harald Frentzen were at Silverstone from
Wednesday, fine tuning the latest chassis set-up for the fast corners at
the Northampton track and carrying out general chassis set-up work.
Villeneuve covered 40 laps on Wednesday for a best time of 1m 27.48s,
improving to 1m 27.30s on Thursday. Frentzen completed 21 laps on Wednesday
for a best of 1m 27.83s and then improved to 1m 26.81s on Thursday. The
team will remain at the circuit until Friday.


TWO BROKEN ENGINES FOR SAUBER

The engine problems which beset the Sauber Petronas team at Magny-Cours
seemed to continue during testing at Silverstone this week. On Wednesday
Jean Alesi suffered an engine failure and Johnny Herbert's Petronas V10
exploded at Copse Corner. Both drivers were working on set-up and engine
mapping, Herbert going off over a kerb on Wednesday which damaged his
undertray. Over the two days the 1995 British GP winner completed 85 laps
for a best time of 1m 27.67s while Alesi completed 89 laps and managed 1m
27.54s.


BOTH TEAM DRIVERS FOR STEWART

Jos Verstappen ended up faster than his Stewart-Ford team-mate Rubens
Barrichello at Silverstone on Thursday when the Brazilian lost most of the
day due to an engine failure "and trying to cure a few handling
problems." Apart from that, the team experienced no major problems and
expects to test the latest P-5 version of the Zetec-R Ford V10 engine
today(Friday). Both drivers used the long wheelbase chassis set-up and
Verstappen declared himself to be reasonably happy with the car after
posting 1m 27.57s during a 43 lap programme. Barrichello, who only
completed 22 laps on Thursday, managed a 1m 28.918s which was 0.2sec
quicker than his Wednesday best. On Tuesday Stewart Grand Prix had the
official opening of its new headquarters at Milton Keynes.


SALO STARTS FOR ARROWS

Mika Salo was the sole Arrows driver on hand at Silverstone for the first
two days of the test this week, the Finn concentrating on engine mapping
and chassis set-up while using the regular test car. On Wednesday his
fastest lap was 1m 29.38s, improving to 1m 29.11s on Thursday despite
having to finish his work prematurely due to an engine problem which
originated in an oil leak. Today(Friday) he will be joined by team-mate
Pedro Diniz and they will conduct a back-to-back test with the latest
evolution of the Arrows V10 engine.


TYRRELL WORK ON ENGINES

Following the failures the team suffered at Magny-Cours, Tyrrell went
testing at Silverstone to investigate engine reliability issues.
Unfortunately Takagi suffered another failure of a P10 spec V10 on
Wednesday morning. The team will bring cars to the British Grand Prix in a
similar configuration to those used at Magny-Cours but with some small
aerodynamic modifications for the fast circuit.


MODIFIED FRONT END FOR PROST

Olivier Panis has been testing a Prost-Peugeot with modified front
suspension at Silverstone and felt it offered a definite gain in
performance. Jarno Trulli tried the car on Thursday afternoon, but it was
fitted with a set-up suiting Panis and the Italian will continue testing
today.


ENGINE PROBLEMS FOR MINARDI

Shinji Nakano's Minardi suffered another engine problem at Silverstone n
Thursday. The team has successfully passed a rear crash test to introduce a
revised rear wing fixing, but it is not certain that sufficient parts can
be built in time for the British Grand Prix. Esteban Tuero was due to take
over the car today (Friday).

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