Silverstone Tests 99-03-18

Testing at Silverstone (March 15/16) and Barcelona (March 16/18)

Testing took place this week both at Barcelona (with Ferrari, Jordan, Prost, Sauber, Minardi and Stewart) and at Silverstone (McLaren, Benetton, BAR and Arrows). The Silverstone test took place over two days, in sunny conditions, while the Spanish circuit saw three days of work.

The tests were fully supported by Bridgestone, which transported 450 tyres to Silverstone and 1250 to Barcelona. The tyres in use, identical at each venue, conformed with the specification of those used in Australia, with a choice of two compounds in both wet and dry configurations.

Bridgestone's objective at the testing was to help the teams find a setup for the forthcoming (April 11) Brazilian GP at Interlagos.

Best times at Silverstone (two days, combined)

D. Coulthard        McLaren                 1.25.783 
M. Hakkinen         McLaren         1.26.246 
G. Fisichella        Benetton         1.27.198 
R. Zonta         BAR                 1.27.744 
A. Wurz         Benetton         1.27.746 
P. de la Rosa         Arrows                 1.28.224 
T. Takagi         Arrows                 1.29.043

Best times at Barcelona (three days, combined):

R. Barrichello                Stewart                1.20.491
J. Herbert                Stewart                1.22.101
E. Irvine                Ferrari                1.23.196
D. Hill                        Jordan                1.23.240
H. Frentzen                Jordan                1.23.258
J. Alesi                Sauber                1.23.282
J. Trulli                Prost                1.23.290
O. Panis                Prost                1.23.593
M. Gene                        Minardi                1.23.925
P. Diniz                Sauber                1.24.081

Further testing takes place this weekend (March 20/21) with Ferrari at the Jerez circuit in southern Spain, where the bumpy and dirty track surface invites comparisons with Interlagos. Having been unable to test at Barcelona, Michael Schumacher is expected to be available for Jerez.