Nigel Mansell made his comeback on the Barcelona (Spain) track with the Jordan-Peugeot team today. Mansell walked away from Formula One after a couple of races for McLaren in 1995, but the Brit never excluded the possibility of returning to the sport.
Eddie Jordan said as Mansell flashed away into the morning sky: "This is not a publicity stunt. We're serious and so is Nigel. He wants to have a look at Jordan. He feels he can be a major benefit to the team and he is raring to go."
Mansell said after the tests: "It's been a while and it took a little bit to get into it. (...) It's been good."
Mansell took, on his first of a two day practice session, the 9th time with a 1m 23.003s. Jacques Villeneuve was fastest with a best time of 1m 19.375s followed by Gerhard Berger with a 1m 20.225s.
The Canadian post is planning to release two stamps in honour of the late Formula One driver Gilles Villeneuve, who died in 1982. One of the stamps, which will be out on June 12, was presented last Tuesday in the presence of Gilles mother and his widow. His son Jacques sent a personal video. The stamps were designed by Joseph Gault and Nigel Skinner, based on photographs by Allan de la Plante.
The FIA has announced that there will be different rules for the brakes and tyres on a Formula One car for the 1998 season. Slicks will be banned and replaced by a grooved compound. The brakes have to be altered to lengthen the braking distance. The car width will be reduced from 200 cm as it now to 180 cm to reduce cornering speeds. The whole idea behind these actions is to give the drivers more opportunity to overtake.
News provided to you by LiZER Motorsports International, Canada
The French Grand Prix can be confirmed until January 31, 1997 so that promoters can comply with the terms of the television contracts.
The FIA needs confirmation by January 31, 1997 of the Portuguese Grand Prix because of work being done to the circuit. If the track is not ready before the Grand Prix the Grand Prix will be held in Jerez (Spain).
News provided to you by LiZER Motorsports International, Canada
After it was first said that the new car would be ready before Christmas Luca di Montezemolo, president of Ferrari, now said at a Motor Show: "We're 90 percent sure of presenting it on Tuesday, January 7. A month is an enormous amount of time in Formula One and I'm expecting a car that's better than this year's. Obviously I cannot guarantee 100 percent that we will win the world title, Williams are not just standing around and waiting for us. But I believe that between 1997 and 1998 the world title will be ours."
The Stewart team will receive a sponsorship deal for two seasons from the Malaysian government. It was already sure that Malaysia would sponsor, it was just not really sure for how long.