British GP

Friday July 12th

Practice 


Friday Jule 12. Practice, British Grand Prix


Morning Practice Times:-

 1 D.Hill		Williams	1:28.267	206.863kph
 2 J.Alesi		Benetton	1:28.634	+0.367s
 3 M.Hakkinen		McLaren		1:28.888	+0.621
 4 G.Berger		Benetton	1:29.013	+0.746
 5 J.Villeneuve		Williams	1:29.160	+0.893
 6 R.Barrichello	Jordan		1:29.250	+0.983
 7 D.Coulthard		McLaren		1:29.737	+1.470
 8 J.Verstappen		Arrows		1:29.753	+1.486
 9 M.Schumacher		Ferrari		1:29.801	+1.534
10 M.Brundle		Jordan		1:29.832	+1.565
11 O.Panis		Ligier		1:30.386	+2.119
12 H.Frentzen		Sauber		1:30.410	+2.143
13 J.Herbert		Sauber		1:30.794	+2.527
14 U.Katayama		Tyrrell		1:30.826	+2.559
15 M.Salo		Tyrrell		1:31.495	+3.228
16 E.Irvine		Ferrari		1:31.550	+3.283
17 R.Rosset		Arrows		1:31.592	+3.325
18 P.Lamy		Minardi		1:32.422	+4.155
19 P.Diniz		Ligier		1:32.478	+4.211
20 G.Fisichella		Minardi		1:32.552	+4.285
  • Neither Forti's took part in the session. They were undergoing major financial problems and didn't even have engines in the cars.

  • Irvine span at Bridge Corner (150mph), but avoided hitting anything.

    Afternoon session. Notes:-

  • Air Temp: 19C, Track Temp: 24C. Overcast
  • Two Jordans first out, followed by Schumacher. Schumacher was very sideways into Copse on his first lap, and almost went off. He was twitching a lot in the corners. Set a 1:32.489 (+4.222). Luca di Montezemolo and Gianni Agnelli (honorary chairman of Fiat and thus Ferrari) were also present to add to the pressure.
  • Alesi's first lap was a 1:28.522 (+0.255). He caught up 0.4s in the final third of the circuit.
  • Nine minutes into the session, and Verstappen's engine blew up. The previous week Arrows had been testing at Magny Cours on Bridgestone tyres, and lapped faster on them than the race Goodyears.
  • Hill was out about ten minutes into the session, and realed off a series of lasp 0.3/0.4s off his morning best.
  • 13 minutes in. Katayama pulls off circuit.
  • Schumacher out for 2nd time. His car was handling much better, but still looking bad through the slow corners. Managed a 1:28.604 (+0.337), despite being only 0.042 down at the second split. This was a big improvement, but he got crossed up on the next lap and came into the pits.
  • Brundle next up for his second attempt. If he won the GP he promised to appear on stage naked and sing 'Danny Boy' at the Jordan post race party. On his flying lap he missed the turn in slightly at Priory, and set a 1:29.365 (+1.098). His next lap was a 1:29.156, 6th
  • On his flyer, Villeneuve went very wide at Becketts. He was throwing his car about much more than Hill. He set a 1:29.296 (+1.029), but went faster four laps later.
  • Hill reappeared, setting a 1:28.309 (+0.042). No sliding about, and looked by far the most comfortable car out there. He won the Mike Hawthorn Memorial Trophy again the day before.
  • Schumacher was out again. He had a big twitch and laid down rubber at Abbey, and was almost on to dirt at Luffield 2. He lacked no commitment, amd could only manage 273kph across the start line. The fastest was 291kph.
  • 36 mins in, Irvine finally came out. Set a 1:30.607 (+2.366), 14th, on his first flyer. He locked up into Copse, twitched very nervously into Club, and an even bigger twitch at Bridge - the car was evil. He set a 1:30.500, 14th. Alesi set a 1:28.364 and then went into the pits, 15 laps complete.
  • Hill came out again on old tyres, and set a 1:30.217 (+1.976) followed by a 1:29.909 (+1.668).
  • 47 mins, Schumacher out again. Managed 277kph across finishing line on the way to a 1:28.436 (4th).
  • Villeneuve then went fastest, setting a 1:27.599 (-0.642s). He was faster again next lap, setting a 1:27.541 (-0.058s). He was still throwing the car about, but was on new tyres.
  • 56 mins. Fisichella spun in Luffield/Priory section. Coulthard went 4th with a 1:28.417. Schumacher was also out and had personal best split times until he got crossed up in Priory. Only managed a 1:29.918 (+2.377) as a result.
  • Hill came back out, and was held up briefly by Schumacher. He set a 1:28.926 (+1.385), still on old tyres. He had lost 0.6s in the Priory/Luffield complex. Next lap was a 1:28.557 (+1.016). He had done 30 laps on the one set.

    

Combined Practice Times:

 1 J.Villeneuve		1:27.541	208.578kph
 2 D.Hill		1:28.241	+0.700
 3 J.Alesi		1:38.364	+0.823
 4 D.Coulthard		1:28.417	+0.876
 5 M.Schumacher		1:28.436	+0.895
 6 M.Hakkinen		1:28.888	+1.347
 7 G.Berger		1:29.013	+1.472
 8 R.Barrichello	1:29.137	+1.596
 9 M.Brundle		1:29.146	+1.605
10 O.Panis		1:29.236	+1.695
11 H.Frentzen		1:29.312	+1.771
12 E.Irvine		1:29.458	+1.917
13 J.Verstappen		1:29.753	+2.212
14 M.Salo		1:30.388	+2.847
15 J.Herbert		1:30.459	+2.918
16 U.Katayama		1:30.826	+3.285
17 P.Diniz		1:30.829	+3.288
18 R.Rosset		1:31.032	+3.491
19 G.Fisichella		1:31.450	+3.909
20 P.Lamy		1:31.661	+4.120
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