Estoril testing notes 96-02-22

Estoril Test - Thursday, Feb 22nd, 1996. Morning session Driver Team Time ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. Jean Alesi Benetton-Renault 1:20.34. 2. Mika Salo Tyrrell-Yamaha 1:20.45. 3. Gerhard Berger Benetton-Renault 1:20.75. 4. Michael Schumacher Ferrari 1:21.08. 5. Jacques Villeneuve Williams-Renault 1:21.34. 6. Martin Brundle Jordan-Paugeot 1:21.70. 7. Olivier Panis Ligier-Mugen 1:21.74. 8. Mika Hakkinen McLaren-Mercedes 1:21.83. 9. Rubens Barrichello Jordan-Peugeot 1:22.91. 10. Jos Verstappen Arrows-Hart 1:21.92. 11. Ukyo Katayama Tyrrell-Yamaha 1:23.22

Afternoon session 1. Mika Hakkinen McLaren-Mercedes 1:19.65. 2. Jean Alesi Benetton-Renault 1:20.26. 3. Jacques Villeneuve Williams-Renault 1:20.54. 4. Gerhard Berger Benetton-Renault 1:21.51. 6. Michael Schumacher Ferrari 1:21.52. 7. Martin Brundle Jordan-Peugeot 1:22.54. 8. Olivier Panis Ligier 1:22.59. 9. Rubens Barrichello Jordan-Peugeot 1:22.36. Tyrrell, Jordan and Arrows have now concluded testing at Estoril. Officials from the Le Castellet track, due to host the French Formula One Grand Prix from 1997, said today (Feb 22nd) they they would probably not be able to stage the event next year. Le Castellet, in southern France, was chosen earlier this month by the French Motor Sports Federation (FFSA) as the venue for the race for five years from next year. But officials from the track said they had been informed by the Formula One Constructors' Association (FOCA) that contracts had already been signed between FOCA and the Magny-Cours track, the current venue of the French round of the world championship, for next year's race. "The president of FOCA (Bernie Ecclestone) has informed us that agreement had already been made with Magny-Cours and that he was not able to sign a contract with Le Castellet, which meant that the race could not be held there in 1997," they said in a statement. They added it was now up to the French federation to make a move and put pressure on FOCA.

MC ---