Ricardo Zonta climbed back into his BAR car yesterday at Silverstone, after being away for three rounds of this year's FIA Formula One World Championship by a serious foot injury sustained in an April 9 accident during practice for the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Throughout his enforced layoff, Zonta has been in almost daily contact with the team, monitoring the car's continuous technical development and keeping a close eye on the progress of his stand-in, Finnish driver, Mika Salo. In fact, Ricardo missed attending only one Grand Prix - San Marino - and this he watched on television. Unlike other Formula One viewers, however, he was able to read the engineers' reports, which the team faxed to him, enabling him to stay in close touch with events.

"I'm so glad to be back with the Team. The past seven weeks have been very frustrating for me, but now I am just so glad to be able to drive again," commented Zonta with obvious pleasure. "I feel prepared both mentally and physically for my first race back and I'm looking forward to renewing my Formula One challenge."