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      The Electronic Formula 1 News Service for the Internet
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                  *** February 21st 1996 ***
                   ***  Issue Number 14 ***
                  3 Weeks To Go (2.5 really !)
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                        In This Issue


           *Mika Sets Lap Record
           *Wednesday Times
           *Hill Sets Lap Record
           *Tuesday Times
           *Jordan Top Of The Heap
           *Where's The New Ferrari ?
           *Sauber Flying
           *Ligier Tests Going Well
           *Minardi Happy
           *Arrows Shakedown Tests At Silverstone
           *Forti To Announce Driver
           *Return Of American GP?
           *Williams Practice Pit Stops !!
           *Hill Fastest at Estoril On Thursday (15th)
           *Barrichello Sets The Pace On Friday (16th)



Mika Sets Lap Record
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Mika Hakkinen today confirmed that both he and the McLaren team were back
on top and ready for the coming season. Mika managed a best time of
1.20.87. Reportedly a new lap record, though David Coulthard qualified with
1.20.54 in 1995. Mika didn't test on Tuesday, but on Monday he was third
fastest behind Brundle and Hill.

Wednesday Times
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Mika Hakkinen was fastest with a stunning 1.20.87. Damon Hill continued to
impress with a best time of 1.20.95. Barrichello kept the Jordan flying and
clocked the same time as Hill 1.20.95
Jacques Villeneuve was fourth fastest with a best lap of 1.21.11. Gerhard
Berger is having a better time of it now, and he managed a best lap of
1.21.38. Martin Brundle brought the second Jordan home in a fastest lap of
1.21.64.. Mika Salo continued Tyrrell's impressive recovery with a best
time of 1.21.91.  Jean Alesi only managed two laps in his Benetton so his
best time of 1.22.58 is not really representative. Ukyo Katayama brought
the second Tyrrell home in a best time of 1.23.06. Finally, Jos Verstappen
took the new Arrows FA17 round in a best time of 1.23.53. The most
interesting aspect of these times is how many drivers got below 1.22.00. In
95 Berger qualified 4th with a time of 1.21.97. That time would now only be
good enough for 8th!!


Hill Sets Lap Record
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On Tuesday it was Damon Hill's chance to soak up the glory, as he set a
fastest time of 1.21.10. The new Williams is said to be a brilliant car
"straight out of the box". There are a few tweaks to be done, though
nothing major.


Tuesday Times
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1st  Damon Hill           1.21.10
2nd  Martin Brundle       1.21.17
3rd  Rubens Barrichello   1.21.19
4th  Jacques Villeneuve   1.21.44
5th  Olivier Panis        1.22.48
6th  Michael Schumacher   1.22.55
7th  Jean Alesi           1.22.61
8th  Mika Salo            1.22.89
9th  Ukyo Katayama        1.23.89
10th Gerhard Berger       1.26.95


Jordan Top Of The Heap
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Earlier in the week the pace was set by the Jordan duo of Barrichello and
Brundle. With Brundle setting the fastest time on Monday with a best lap of
1.21.51. Hill was second fastest with a best of 1.21.71. Sorry no full
times for Monday :-(


Where's The New Ferrari ?
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Due to problems with the new car, Schumacher has been forced to test in the
hybrid that the team were using before the launch of the F310. The problems
are reported to be gearbox related. The F310 was expected to return today
(Wednesday) but failed to show on the track.


Sauber Flying
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The Sauber pairing of Herbert and Frentzen have been testing at Barcelona.
Herbert managed a best time of 1.23.46 and Frentzen managed 1.22.30. Last
year Frentzen qualified in 1.24.80, so the new car looks to be at least 2.5
seconds quicker !


Ligier Tests Going Well
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Ligier have conducted their long distance tests at Barcelona. The cars
covered over 700 Km with no problems. Panis set a quickest lap of 1.23.23
and Diniz managed 1.25.70. Ligier are now at Estoril where all the teams
are in final test sessions.


Minardi Happy
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The Minardi team are happy with their progress so far. Inoue has yet to
test but Pedro Lamy managed a best time of 1.23.10 at Estoril last week.
The car has completed most of the long distance test sessions, over 1000
Km.


Arrows Shakedown Tests At Silverstone
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Arrows continue to use Jos Verstappen and Ricardo Rosset for testing. Last
week the FA17 was put through initial tests at Silverstone. One car has now
been shipped to Estoril and Verstappen and Rosset will share the drive.
Arrows have still to confirm their two drivers, though an announcement is
expected soon. Gianni Morbidelli is still being linked with the team.


Forti To Announce Driver
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Forti are expected to announce on Thursday that Luca Badoer will be their
second driver. The team are off to Paul Ricard (or possibly Fiorino) to
test.


Return Of American GP?
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The US GP may return to the F1 calendar next year. It is understood that
Las Vegas is favourite. We can all hope that they will find an alternative
to the Ceasars Palace car park !


Williams Practice Pit Stops !!
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The big rumour is that Williams have been practising pit stops!!. Last week
at Estoril they were seen to practice a timed "race mode" pit stop. Lessons
learned from last year perhaps ?


Hill Fastest at Estoril On Thursday (15th)
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Damon Hill set the fastest time at Estoril last Thursday. The track had
dried out and the weather improved too. Hill set a best time of 1.21.64
during his 27 lap session.

Rubens Barrichello set the second fastest time of 1.22.59 during his 67 lap
session.

The Benetton team had a better time of it too, Alesi managed a best of
1.22.91 and Berger clocked 1.23.03. Martin Brundle also managed a best time
of 1.23.03


Barrichello Sets The Pace On Friday (16th)
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With the track continuing to dry and Williams absent from the track, Rubens
Barrichello set the fastest time during Friday testing. He managed a best
lap of 1.21.47.

Mika Hakkinen continued his remarkable progress and set the second fastest
time of 1.21.49. Both Mika and Rubens eclipsed Damon's Thursday time.

Jean Alesi managed a best of 1.21.74 in his Benetton, almost a second quicker
than McLaren new boy David Coulthard who's best time was 1.22.79. Martin
Brundle in the second Jordan clocked a best time of 1.23.10. Pedro Lamy put
his Minardi through its paces and managed a respectable 1.23.43

Gerhard Berger struggled with his car and could only manage a best time of
1.23.95. I'm sure he will
improve on that :-).

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This document is most definitely copyright 1996 Formula 1 News. This
publication is free for the Internet community and may be freely
distributed to news groups and forums provided it is reposted completely,
in a wholly unedited form and credited to Neil Whiley.
None of these articles are guaranteed 100% true, accurate or correct. We
report it as we hear it. In many cases one weeks story will be completely
contradicted by next weeks, such is life :-)
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Formula 1 News is edited by Neil Whiley. (Neil@bigvern.demon.co.uk).
Check out the Web Site at: http://www.u-net.com/enigma/formula1
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