Thursday May 22nd, 2003

Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher took time out on Thursday to collect an award named after a Ferrari Grand Prix driver who died of burns when his car caught fire.

Ferrari said Schumacher, who won in Austria last weekend despite a fiery pitstop, flew from the team's Fiorano test track to the town of Brisighella near Imola to collect the Lorenzo Bandini prize.

"(Ferrari sporting director Jean) Todt and Michael flew there with the helicopter during the lunch break," said a spokesman.

Bandini died after crashing in the 1967 Monaco Grand Prix, Schumacher's next race on June 1, and becoming trapped in the overturned car. The only Grand Prix he won during his career was in Austria, in 1964.

The local award, announced during the San Marino Grand Prix by the Lorenzo Bandini Association and now in its 10th edition, usually goes to an up-and-coming driver but Schumacher said he also fitted the bill.

"In fact, I consider myself a driver who is still improving," the Ferrari website quoted him as saying before he returned to Fiorano to continue testing.

Published at 16:30:09 GMT

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