German GP: Bridgestone preview

Bridgestone expectations high for Hockenheim

Bridgestone Motorsport heads to Hockenheim this week with an air of determination within the team. Like the French Grand Prix, the German round of the FIA Formula One World Championship has been targeted as one to return a Bridgestone equipped driver to the top step of the podium.

Reigning World Champion Michael Schumacher was unlucky not to finish on the podium last year, having won the previous year in 2002, and will be looking to put the record straight again. Rubens Barrichello has also taken top honours at Hockenheim and he too will be looking for a repeat of his 2000 victory.

Sauber Petronas, Jordan Ford and Wilux Minardi Cosworth, meanwhile, will be chasing hard for points this weekend - the last race before the three-week summer break.

Hiroshi Yasukawa, Director of Motorsport:

"Hockenheim is a very important round for Bridgestone. Not only is Germany one of our key European markets but with drivers such as Michael Schumacher, Nick Heidfeld and Timo Glock among our ranks, it is a great opportunity for us to demonstrate our technological expertise to their home crowds. We wish them the best of luck at their home Grand Prix."

2004 Tyres for Hockenheim
Bridgestone Motorsport has sent 1,400 dry and wet weather Bridgestone Potenza Formula One tyres to the German Grand Prix. These comprise of five dry weather specifications specifically tailored to the 4.574-km track.

Hisao Suganuma, Technical Manager, said:

"Hockenheim has changed over recent years but it is still tough on tyres. The long sweeping Parabolica Curve and tight hairpins mean the tyres can be under extreme loads for relatively long periods of time. Furthermore, temperatures can be very high in Hockenheim as we have experienced over the past couple of years when track temperatures reached into the 50's so heat durability was a major factor when we made the final tyre selections at last week's Jerez test."

"In fact, both Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro and Jordan Ford were in action making the most of the final opportunity to get some running before the test bans ends in September. Ferrari was in both Jerez (Spain) and Monza (Italy) while Jordan was at Silverstone (UK)."

"The teams conducted a large tyre programme between them, the results of which have been greatly encouraging. We expect that we shall soon be taking further steps forward in our tyre development and, when appropriate, look forward to phasing in these new developments to further enhance the competitiveness of the Bridgestone teams as the season draws to a climax."

"In the meantime, however, we shall be taking five dry weather specifications to Germany for our four teams and I expect them all to be fighting hard for points this weekend. As we proved at the beginning of the season, and again in France, Bridgestone's F1 tyres are fully competitive in high temperatures."

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