British GP: Arrows race notes

The OrangeArrows team had a heartbreaking end to its British Grand Prix at Silverstone today. Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Enrique Bernoldi both ran comfortably in points-scoring positions but by the halfway mark of the race, both cars had retired. Heinz went out with an engine problem, Enrique with a broken driveshaft.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen

"That was a real disappointment as it was the most fun we have had this weekend! We were definitely in for a lot of points today so to have something break at such a key moment is a huge shame for us. I didn't have a very good start but we made up for that by making the right choice on tyres, choosing the intermediates, and I have to say that the cars in front were easy meat and I was able to easily overtake. The car was perfect and, after a weekend like the one we've just had, a points finish would have been fantastic reward for the OrangeArrows team."

Enrique Bernoldi

"I had a great start again today and was up to 12th by the end of the first lap. I was able to push hard and was thoroughly enjoying the race. I started from pretty much the back so to be in a position to score points by the halfway point was great. We made the right choice on tyres for the first stop (intermediates) but not the second time because as soon as we put on the dry weather tyres it began to rain more heavily so I had to pit again. In the end it didn't matter as I stopped for good soon after that. It is a shame to lose such a good opportunity as they don't come along very often."

Graham Taylor, Chief Race Engineer, OrangeArrows

"Heinz was the first of all the runners to react to the rain today which gained us a huge advantage. It was a quick call and I must pay tribute to the pit crew who did a fantastic job throughout. Enrique also benefited from a quick switch to intermediates and we were able to take full effect of the advantage that Bridgestone tyres gave us in the wet. It was certainly good to see our cars swarming all over some of the more significant Michelin runners. Heinz was comfortably faster that Villeneuve who finished fourth so I think we could have had a healthy crop of points today. In retrospect we made the wrong call with Enrique's second stop as the rain got heavier just as he entered the Pitlane. To have neither car finish is a huge shame for the team that has worked hard all season and especially during this very difficult weekend."

Heinz-Harald Frentzen
Position: DNF - Engine
Chassis No.: A23-01

Enrique Bernoldi
Position: DNF - Driveshaft
Chassis No.: A23-03

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