Hungarian GP Tyrrell preview

August 4, 1995 Preview Hungarian Grand Prix

Nokia Tyrrell Yamaha aiming for the top ten

The Nokia Tyrrell Yamaha team tested for two days at Silverstone this week (Wednesday and Thursday) with Ukyo Katayama, Mika Salo and Gabriele Tarquini and two 023 cars. All three drivers reported significant progress with the handling of the car. Ukyo's quickest time was 1 min 32,3 sec and Gabriele's 1 min 32,8 sec. In Hungary, Mika and Ukyo will be aiming for a top ten qualifying position to confirm the return of the team to the front of the grid.

Harvey Postlethwaite, Managing Director - Engineering, said: "During those two days we concentrated on set-up work with the new conventional front suspension. We also practiced several starts. We will go to Hungary with a new rear wing which will increase the level of downforce. With the recent improvements we made on the car, we will have the potential to qualify in the top ten. We wished we had our new fly-by-wire throttle control ready for this race but it is still under development and is looking very promising."

Ukyo Katayama is in good spirits after his strong race at Hockenheim: "I am delighted with the improvements we achieved on the set-up at Silverstone. The car feels much better now, I am happier with the balance and we found some more grip. I am looking forward to Hungary because the team has been working hard and I want to reward them with a good result. The Hungaroring is very tight and twisty. It's very slippery and the weather is generally hot. The race is always hard physically and the driver's fitness can make the difference. I qualified fifth last year..."

Mika Salo, who will have to learn another new circuit commented: "Ukyo and Gabriele did most of the running this week and I did not set any time. The team continued to work in the right direction after the test we had in Magny-Cours before Germany. Things are looking better and better and I m sure we will be more competitive in Hungary. I am going to work on my computer game this weekend to learn the circuit as much as I can. It will save me time during the practice and give me more time to concentrate on the set-up. I don't think it's such a slow circuit, but the driveable corners are very important."

Mike Gascoyne, Deputy Technical Director: "It's a very demanding circuit, the weather is always very hot and cooling the car is crucial. The circuit is very tight, twisty and bumpy, with lots of long third gear and slow corners. It's traditionally a place where it is difficult to overtake, so a good qualifying performance is essential. You need a car which is good over the bumps, with good traction out of the slow speed corners. All the cars will run in their maximum downforce configuration."

The Hungarian Grand Prix will be held on the 3.968 kms / 2.465 miles Hungaroring circuit near Budapest. The 77 lap, 305.536 / 189.892 miles race will start at 14.00 hours local time on Sunday 13th August and is expected to last around 1 hour 50 minutes.