Tests at Silverstone; Audi; BAR team; Driver news
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Wednesday June 10, 1998

Showers hampered today's tests at the Silverstone (England) track. In the end Heinz-Harald Frentzen was the fastest, followed by David Coulthard. Michael Schumacher spun off, which resulted in loss of time because the car had to be cleaned and checked, but it was undamaged.

The Prost team continued to test the long wheelbase car while Sauber was testing a new front suspension. Alain Prost has stated that he will drive one of his cars later in the year. He said: "We must sort out our cars before we can consider it." Paul and Jackie Stewart have also tested their own car last year.

Pedro de la Rosa tested the new V10 Mugen-Honda for the Jordan team.


Audi

Audi is close to buying Lamborghini. Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, son of the former Indonesia's President Suharto, is the owner at this moment.


BAR team

It is expected that BAR will announce its engine deal next month. Adrian Reynard has also stated that he would like to see Jacques Villeneuve or David Coulthard as one of their drivers. Both drivers have already stated that they want to stay with their current team: Williams and McLaren. Alex Zanardi is also mentioned. Villeneuve stated: "I'm interested in what Craig is doing. But his team is completely new and this is very definitely not the direction that I will look in first. Williams is a great team and I'm impressed at the way they've worked to close the gap between the McLaren and ourselves."

Team boss Craig Pollock is still lobbying to get the name changed from Tyrrell to BAR, but it is still not likely to happen.


Driver news

The rumours surrounding the return of Honda are getting stronger. Drivers named for the team are Alex Zanardi, his name also pops up with the new BAR team, and Tyrrell's Tora Takagi.

It is also rumoured that Jason Watt could replace Jos Verstappen as the test driver for Benetton. Verstappen denies this is true.


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