The Benetton finally launched their new wind tunnel on which they started to build three years ago. The team hopes it will bring them back to the front of the field. This year they ended fifth in the championship.

Team-boss Rocco Benetton said: "This is a very important event for the team. It is certainly the biggest single investment by the Benetton group in motor racing (...) we now have the most sophisticated and advanced wind tunnel of any Formula One team."

The new facility has cost about 12 million pounds (US$ 19.79 million). Technical director Pat Symonds is also pleased with the new wind-tunnel. He said: "A single percent of improvement in aerodynamic efficiency will be seen as a measurable reduction in lap times. It is for this reason that we have invested in the most sophisticated automotive wind tunnel in the world." He also added that: "The finished article far exceeds our design specifications."