Minardi opened the two day test session on the Imola (Italy) circuit today with Giancarlo Fisichella. The Team used the 1996 car (M 195B) with an old Ford ED3 engine. They tested some new parts that are to be fitted on the M 197, the car for next year. Fisichella clocked a fastest time of 1m 32.78s.

TWR F1 was also testing at Imola. Pedro Diniz performed another Bridgestone test with the 1996 Arrows fitted with a Hart V8. He set a best time of 1m 33.06s before the rain kicked in.