Estoril Jordan testing notes

Total Jordan Peugeot are continuing to make good progress in the build up to the start of the 1996 season. The team have been in Estoril since last Wednesday (14th February) with Rubens Barrichello and Martin Brundle completing over 2,000 km between them with no major problems. Whilst the emphasis of the test has been on reliability, outright speed has not been a problem either. Barrichello set the quickest time of the test so far on Friday with a 1'21.47 lap, to record Jordan's quickest ever time at the Portuguese circuit.

`Its really going very well" says Rubens. "1 thank this is the longest test we've ever done and that's enabled us to build up a really good momentum. We've got through a lot of work on the chassis and engine and I've done a couple of race distances too. We've made good progress. The car is very responsive to set-up changes; each day we are learning new things and taking another step forward".

Team-mate Martin Brundle added; `We've had a fantastic few days. I've completed two full race distances with simulated warmup and starts, and done 270 laps in total with no major problems at all. My best time so far is a 1'23.10 but I've yet to run in qualifying trim. We were particularly pleased with the last race run as the lap times are concerned - and there's still more to come from the car "

Total Jordan Peugeot will remain in Estoril until Friday (23rd February). The cars will then have a final shakedown run at Silverstone next Thursday (29th February) before departing for Melbourne, and the first race of the 1996 season, the following day.

Testing Times (14th - 18th February)

1.    Rubens Barrichello (Total Jordan Peugeot)          1'21'.47
2.    Mika Hakkinen (McLaren-Mercedes)                   1`21.49
3.    Damon Hill (Williams-Renault)                      1'21.64
4     Jean Alesi (Benetton-Renault)                      1'21.74
5,    Gerhard Berger (Benetton-Renault)                  1'22.64
6.    David Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes)                 1`22.79
7.    Martin Brundle (Total Jordan Peugeot)              1'23.10
8=    Jacques Villeneuve (Williams-Renault)              1'23.12
8=    Pedro Lamy (Minardi-Ford)                          1'23,12

-- Stephen M Baines

"[The Autosport sticker] started to peel off in the middle of Eau Rouge and it distracted me. In fact it was the first thing to hit the barrier" Tiff Needell - Jaguar XJR-15 Challenge - Interview with Autosport

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