01.08.94 - F1Formula One chiefs will launch a full investigation into the pit lane fireball which engulfed Jos Verstappen in Sunday's German GP. The Benetton driver amazingly escaped without serious injury, as did the team's crew, after he stopped for refuelling. Ther e has been no suggestion so far of an immediate ban on mid-race refuelling, which was re-introduced at the start of the season. Benetton are to meet with the makers of the refuelling equipment in a bid to determine the cause.
04.08.94 - F1Damon Hill recorded the fastest time out of nine drivers after two days of testing at Silverstone. The Briton's Williams Renault team concentrated on damper and suspension testing and both cars will have overnight engine changes. Michael Schumacher was do ing set-up work while the FIA was attempting to determine the reason for the German GP pit-lane fire on Sunday. Frenchman Philippe Alliot joined Mika Hakkinen in testing the MP4/9 in preparation for his first GP in a McLaren at the Hungarian race.
Times after two days of testing: mins secs 1 D Hill GB Williams 1:29.67 2 M Schumacher Ger Benetton 1:29.79 3 D Coulthard GB Williams 1:30.26 4 M Hakkinen Fin McLaren 1:30.36 5 O Panis Fr Ligier 1:31.67 6 M Blundell GB Tyrrell 1:32.42 7 P Alliot Fr McLaren 1:34.26 8 B Gachot Fr Pacific 1:35.23 9 P Belmondo Fr Pacific 1:37.34 06.08.94F1:- Damon Hill has revealed he received a death threat before Sunday's German Grand Prix at Hockenheim. A call was made to the Williams team on Friday saying Hill would be shot if he finished ahead of Michael Schumacher. Hill said: "I had a police escort everywhere I went outside the track and there was someone on duty outside my bedroom door each night. I did my best to forget about the threat but it proved a bit difficult on race morning."
RALLYING:- Scotland's Colin McRae will contest September's Rally of Australia. The New Zealand Rally winner will compete in a third Subaru Impreza 555, joining Possum Bourne and Richard Bourne. His participation will result in a one-car entry for the 555 team in the 1000 Lakes Rally - where Carlos Sainz will be in action. McRae will return to his World Championship programme after Australia, competing in San Remo and the Great Britain RAC Rally.
07.08.94 - F3 Result of Marlboro Masters, Zandvoort (NL) Mins:Secs 1 G.Rees GB Dallara Mugen Honda F394 36:29.363 2 J.Muller Ger Dallara Fiat F394 36:30.115 3 S.Maassen Ger Dallara Opel F394 36:30.473 4 P.Peter Aut Dallara Fiat F394 36:32.255 5 N.Fontana RA Dallara Opel F394 36:35.150 6 P.Coloni It Dallara Fiat F394 36:38.982 7 R.Colciago It Dallara Fiat F394 36:41.176 8 J.Dufour Fr Dallara Mugen Honda F394 36:41.434 9 G.Fisichella It Dallara Opel F394 36:42.153 10 M.Gueiros Brz Dallara Vauxhall F394 36:43.812 11 C.Tinseau Fr Dallara Opel F394 36:44.323 12 D.Franchitti GB Dallara Mugen Honda F394 36:45.001 13.08.94 F1: THE HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX Qualifying 1 M Schumacher Ger Benetton 1:18.258 2 D Hill GB Williams 1:18.824 3 D Coulthard GB Williams 1:20.205 4 G Berger Aut Ferrari 1:20.219 5 U Katayama Jap Tyrrell 1:20.232 6 M Brundle GB McLaren 1:20.629 7 E Irvine NI Jordan 1:20.698 8 H Frentzen Ger Sauber 1:20.858 9 O Panis Fra Ligier 1:20.929 10 R Barrichello Brz Jordan 1:20.952 11 M Blundell GB Tyrrell 1:20.984 12 J Verstappen NL Benetton 1:21.141 13 J Alesi Fra Ferrari 1:21.206 14 P Alliot Fra McLaren 1:21.498 15 P Martini It Minardi 1:21.837 16 C Fittipaldi Brz Arrows 1:21.873 17 A DeCesaris It Sauber 1:21.946 18 E Bernard Fra Ligier 1:22.038 19 G Morbidelli It Arrows 1:22.311 20 M Alboreto It Minardi 1:22.379 21 E Comas Fra Larrousse 1:22.487 22 A Zanardi It Lotus 1:22.513 23 D Brabham Aus Simtek 1:22.614 24 J Herbert GB Lotus 1:22.705 25 O Beretta Mon Larrousse 1:22.899 26 J Gounon Fra Simtek 1:24.191 Non Qualifiers 27 B Gachot Bel Pacific 1:24.908 28 P Belmondo Fra Pacific 1:26.275 14.08.94 F1: THE HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX Hr:Min:Secs 1 M Schumacher Ger Benetton 1:48:00.185 2 D Hill GB Williams 1:48:21.012 3 J Verstappen NL Benetton 1:49:10.514 4 M Brundle GB McLaren @ 1 lap 5 M Blundell GB Tyrrell @ 1 lap 6 O Panis Fra Ligier @ 1 lap 7 M Alboreto It Minardi @ 2 laps 8 E Comas Fra Larrousse @ 2 laps 9 O Beretta Mon Larrousse @ 2 laps 10 E Bernard Fra Ligier @ 2 laps 11 D Brabham Aus Simtek @ 3 laps 12 G Berger Aut Ferrari @ 5 laps 13 A Zanardi It Lotus @ 5 laps 14 C Fittipaldi Brz Footwork @ 8 laps Retirements: D.Coulthard - Accident J.Alesi - Gearbox P.Martini - Spin H.Frentzen - Gearbox J.Herbert - Electrics A.De Cesaris - Spin G.Morbidelli - Accident J.Gounon - Handling P.Alliot - Water Leak U.Katayama - Accident R.Barrichello - Accident E.Irvine - AccidentMichael Schumacher slowed down on the second to last lap so that his teammate Jos Verstappen could unlap himself and attempt to chase Martin Brundle, in case something went wrong. And indeed it did - half way around the last lap Brundle's engine expired, allowing Verstappen through. He was still classified fourth, however.
Katayama, Barrichello and Irvine were all eliminated in a shunt at the second corner just after the start. Accounts differed. "I was in fifth place when I was hit very hard in the back, and pushed off the track. There was nothing I could do," complained K atayama. The two Jordan drivers saw it differently: "I was in fifth place", said Irvine, "with Rubens and Katayama behind me. Katayama tried to come up the outside under braking, and Rubens tried to come down the inside. There wasn't enough room for three cars..." "I think maybe Katayama moved over on Eddie", said Barrichello. "Eddie came over to the inside, and we touched..." Eddie Jordan was not best pleased.
TOURING CARS: OULTON PARK GOLD CUP Min:Secs 1 J Winkelhock BMW 318i 28:09.63 2 A Menu Renault Laguna 28:12.58 3 G Tarquini Alfa Romeo 155 28:18.24 4 G Simoni Alfa Romeo 155 28:18.66 5 R Ravaglia BMW 318i 28:18.94 6 T Harvey Renault Laguna 28:26.29 7 J Lammers Volvo 850 SE 28:29.73 8 P Watts Peugeot 405 Mi16 28:39.58 9 J Bailey Toyota Carina E 28:44.36 10 K Odor Nissan Primera 28:44.55 INDYCAR: Mid-Ohio, Results: Hr:Min:Secs 1 A Unser Jnr Penske Ilmor PC23 1:42:43.447 2 P Tracy Penske Ilmor PC23 1:41:53.411 3 E Fittipaldi Penske Ilmor PC23 83 laps 4 R Gordon Lola Ford T94/00 82 laps 5 M Andretti Reynard Ford 941 82 laps 6 A Fernandez Reynard Ilmor 941 82 laps 7 N Mansell Lola Ford T94/00 82 laps 8 R Boesel Lola Ford T94/00 82 laps 9 J Villeneuve Reynard Ford 941 82 laps 10 M Andretti Lola Ford T94/00 82 laps 21.08.94 INDYCAR: New Hampshire Oval, results Hr:Min:Secs 1 A Unser Jnr Penske Ilmor PC23 1:43:31.594 2 P Tracy Penske Ilmor PC23 1:43:42.484 3 E Fittipaldi Penske Ilmor PC23 200 laps 4 R Boesel Lola Ford T94/00 198 laps 5 M Andretti Reynard Ford 941 198 laps 6 D Dobson Lola Ford T94/00 197 laps 7 J Vasser Reynard Ford 941 195 laps 8 A Fernandez Reynard Ilmor 941 195 laps 9 B Rahal Lola Honda T94/00 193 laps 10 W Ribbs Lola Ford T94/00 192 lapsNigel Mansell and Mario Andretti colided with each other mid race. Mansell was coming up to lap Andretti, who resisted. Mansell went down the inside, and Andretti squeezed him. As Mansell was on the inside of the track, Mansell's car lost grip and he went sideways into Andretti, eliminating him on the spot as he went into the wall. Mansell retired a few laps later with handling problems.
"He drove right into me coming off Turn 1", complained Andretti, who was briefly treated for a bruised thigh. "I thought he was under me, and the next thing I know he drilled me right into the wall". Mansell saw it differently however. "I got a good jum p going down the main straight. I was alongside, maybe half a car's length in front going into Turn 1. I don't know whether Mario didn't see me because he came across. I tried to give him some room and almost came over into the pitlane. But unfortunately we touched..."
F3: ROUND 13, PEMBREY Race 1 1 J Magnusson Dallara Mugen 15:11.52 2 V Radermecker Dallara Mugen 15:11.72 3 D Franchitti Dallara Mugen 15:13.87 4 R Rosset Dallara Mugen 15:16.20 5 G Rees Dallara Mugen 15:16.63 6 C Horner Dallara Mugen 15:22.00 7 D Morelli Dallara Fiat 15:22.36 8 G Salles Dallara Mugen 15:23.86 9 D Vercoe Dallara Vauxhall 15:25.93 10 M Gene Dallara Mitsubishi 15:26.55 Race 2 1 J Magnusson Dallara Mugen 17:52.19 2 D Franchitti Dallara Mugen 17:53.04 3 R Rosset Dallara Mugen 17:53.55 4 G Rees Dallara Mugen 17:54.54 5 V Radermecker Dallara Mugen 17:58.94 6 D Morelli Dallara Fiat 18:00.39 7 G Salles Dallara Mugen 18:01.35 8 D Vercoe Dallara Vauxhall 18:01.79 9 C Horner Dallara Mugen 18:02.59 10 M Gene Dallara Mitsubishi 18:03.33 27.08.94F1:- JOHN WATSON ON THE BELGIAN GRAND PRIX
There is a major change drivers must confront at Spa this weekend. In the light of a safety review, the infamous Eau Rouge corner has been completely shaped. This once formed one of the most daunting sequence of corners on any GP circuit, but for this yea r it will become a "stop-start" chicane. The Spa circuit still partially runs on public roads and it is not until 1995 when it becomes a permanent circuit that sufficient safety permits a return to the original layout.
The outcome of the change at the Eau Rouge corner underlines the true nature of the circuit. That nature has always been about power. This change cements that fact. The change alone provides Williams-Renault and Ferrari with a further opportunity to sc ore a victory. Acceleration from Eau Rouge now dominates the one kilometre climb up to Les Coombes. Anybody with less than 800 horsepower will be really hurting.
The need for power is bad news for Michael Schumacher and Benetton as the Ford Zetec R engine does not quite match its rivals. A superb team effort has led to Benetton's domination this year and if anybody wanted inclement weather this weekend it is th em. Rain is a fairly frequent visitor to the Belgian GP. Equally, race strategy will once again play a contributory role. These influences will be the best possible leveller to balance their relative lack of grunt.
If Michael Schumacher were to be challenged for the title of most exciting driver, then look no further than Mika Hakkinen. The young Finn, returning to his McLaren seat, is always impressive. The same factors that will benefit Michael Schumacher's tea m will also play into McLaren's hands. But it is Hakkinen's enthusiasm and commitment that will make him a spectacular force throughout the Spa weekend.
Britain's Damon Hill will want to win to gain full benefit from the two-race ban hanging over series leader Michael Schumacher. Hill still has some catching up to do in the points race and cannot afford anything less than a maximum score. With Schumach er's appeal being heard on 30 August, the result of this race will be crucial to him. If the German wins, I expect him to accept his punishment. But if his championship lead slips, he may choose to go ahead with the appeal.
Two teams presently vying for top six honours are Tyrrell and Jordan. What makes their progress exciting is that their respective drivers are battling with their teammates as much as the rest of the field. Spa is an easy circuit to trip over another ca r - especially going into La Source hairpin after the start. This applies as much to the front of the grid as it does to the back. Making his F1 debut at Spa is Belgian Philippe Adams. A daunting prospect at the best of times, his home GP may well be over whelming.
Saturday's qualifying times: mins secs 1 R Ba'chello Brz Jordan 2:21.163 2 M Schumacher Ger Benetton 2:21.494 3 D Hill GB Williams 2:21.681 4 E Irvine NI Jordan 2:22.074 5 J Alesi Fr Ferrari 2:22.202 6 J Verstappen Hol Benetton 2:22.218 7 D Coulthard GB Williams 2:22.359 8 M Hakkinen Fin McLaren 2:22.441 9 H Frentzen Ger Sauber 2:22.634 10 P Martini It Minardi 2:23.326 11 G Berger Aut Ferrari 2:23.895 12 M Blundell GB Tyrrell 2:24.048 13 M Brundle GB McLaren 2:24.117 14 G Morbidelli It Footwork 2:25.114 15 A de Cesaris It Sauber 2:25.695 16 E Bernard Fr Ligier 2:26.044 17 O Panis Fr Ligier 2:26.079 18 M Alboreto It Minardi 2:26.738 19 P Alliott Fr Larrousse 2:26.901 20 J Herbert GB Lotus 2:27.155 21 D Brabham Aus Simtek 2:27.212 22 E Comas Fr Larrousse 2:28.156 23 U Katayama Jpn Tyrrell 2:28.979 24 C Fittipaldi Brz Footwork 2:30.931 25 JM Gounon Fr Simtek 2:31.755 26 P Adams Bel Lotus 2:33.885 Failed to qualify: 27 B Gachot Bel Pacific 2:34.582 28 JP Belmondo Fr Pacific 2:35.729Rubens Barrichello earned pole position for the first time in his career as the bad weather continued on the eve of Sunday's race. The 22-year-old Brazilian sat out the wet final qualifying session but no-one was able to better his overnight time of 2:21. 163. His daredevil driving on the sodden Spa Francorchamps track upset the formbook to give Jordan pole for the first time in their history. Michael Schumacher will start alongside Barrichello, with Damon Hill third and Eddie Irvine fourth.
1000 LAKES RALLY: Positions after 27 of 35 stages: hrs mins secs 1 T Makinen Fin Ford Escort 3:21.45 2 D Auriol Fr Toyota 3:22.03 3 C Sainz Sp Subaru 3:22.07 4 F Delecour Fr Ford Escort 3:24.52 5 M Gronholm Fin Toyota 3:26.24 6 L Lampi Fin Mitsubishi 3:30.16 7 J Kytolehto Fin Mitsubishi 3:30.42 8 T Radstrom Swe Toyota 3:33.11 9 T Jansson Swe Toyota 3:34.46 10 O Harkki Fin Mitsubishi 3:38.03 28.08.94 F1: THE BELGIAN GRAND PRIX Sunday's revised result: hrs mins secs 1 D Hill GB Williams 1:28:47.170 2 M Hakkinen Fin McLaren @ :51.381 3 J Verstappen Hol Benetton @ 1:10.453 4 D Coulthard GB Williams @ 1:45.787 5 M Blundell GB Tyrrell @ 1 lap 6 G Morbidelli It Footwork @ 1 lap 7 O Panis Fr Ligier @ 1 lap 8 P Martini It Minardi @ 1 lap 9 M Alboreto It Minardi @ 1 lap 10 E Bernard Fr Ligier @ 2 laps 11 JM Gounon Fr Simtek @ 2 laps 12 J Herbert GB Lotus @ 3 laps 13 E Irvine NI Jordan @ 4 laps Championship standings (after Belgian GP) 1 M Schumacher Ger 76 pts 2 D Hill GB 55 3 G Berger Aut 27 4 J Alesi Fr 19 5 M Hakkinen Fin 14 6 R Barrichello Brz 10 7 M Brundle GB 9 8 M Blundell GB 8 = J Verstappen Hol 8 10 O Panis Fr 7 = D Coulthard GB 7 12 N Larini It 6 = C Fittipaldi Brz 6 Championship standings (after Belgian GP): 1 Benetton Ford 85 points 2 Williams Renault 64 3 Ferrari 52 4 McLaren Peugeot 23 5 Jordan Hart 14 6 Tyrrell Yamaha 13 = Ligier 11 8 Sauber Mercedes 10 9 Footwork Ford 9 = Minardi Ford 5 11 Larrousse Ford 2Race winner Michael Schumacher has been disqualified by officials because of a rules infringement. The championship leader finished more than 13 seconds ahead of Damon Hill to claim what was thought to be his eighth win from 11 races. But hours after the finish race stewards ruled that a mandatory wooden plank under his car, aimed at slowing down drivers, did not meet legal measurements. As a result Hill was awarded the victory to open up the title race.
Runaway championship leader Michael Schumacher roared to his eighth win in eleven races, but was later disqualified by officials. The 25-year-old German, starting in second place on the grid, overtook Rubens Barrichello to claim the lead on the first l ap. He was briefly overtaken by David Coulthard on lap 28 after a pit stop but always looked in control. Damon Hill claimed his fifth second place of the season, but was later elevated to first, while Coulthard moved up from fifth to fourth place.
Michael Schumacher's up-and-down season continued as he had his 35-point championship lead cut to 21 following his disqualification. The German looked to have given himself and his Benetton team the perfect tonic by winning, following the barrage of re cent criticism. To make matters worse Schumacher faces an appeal against a two-race ban on Tuesday imposed for ignoring a black flag at Silverstone. If the suspension stands, Britain's Damon Hill will be presented with a golden chance to close the gap.
Damon Hill was awarded victory after a post-race inspection resulted in the disqualification of race winner Michael Schumacher. Hill had a lengthy battle with teammate David Coulthard before finally going through on lap 36, breaking the lap record on t he way. Coulthard, who briefly led the field, eventually finished in fifth after his car was jammed in fourth gear for the final few laps. Mark Blundell was sixth in the Tyrrell but Martin Brundle was forced to retire after spinning off.
The wooden plank under winner Michael Schumacher's car which led to his disqualification was brought in to slow drivers down. The board was introduced at the German Grand Prix in the wake of the tragic deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger. Ev ery car is allowed to lose 1mm off the plank during the race, but officials ruled Schumacher's was under their requirements. A claim by Benetton that a spin on lap 19 had worn the wood down was rejected.
TOURING CARS: Combined qualifying from Brands Hatch: mins:secs 1 J Winkelhock BMW 47.08 2 S Soper BMW 47.09 3 G Simoni Alfa Romeo 47.36 4 G Tarquini Alfa Romeo 47.39 5 R Rydell Volvo 850 47.43 6 A Menu Renault Laguna 47.44 7 T Harvey Renault Laguna 47.54 8 J Lammers Volvo 850 47.56 9 P Radisich Ford Mondeo 47.57 10 P Watts Peugeot 405 47.62 1000 LAKES RALLY Result after 35 stages: hrs mins secs 1 T Makinen Fin Ford Escort 4:33.44 2 D Auriol Fr Toyota 4:34.06 3 C Sainz Sp Subaru 4:34.38 4 F Delecour Fr Ford Escort 4:39.22 5 M Gronholm Fin Toyota 4:40.55 6 L Lampi Fin Mitsubishi 4:45.47 7 T Radstrom Swe Toyota 4:50.09 8 J Kytolehto Fin Mitsubishi 4:51.55 9 J Kankkunen Fin Toyota 4:53.29 10 O Harkki Fin Mitsubishi 4:58.37 DRIVERS' TITLE 1 D Auriol Fr Toyota 90 pts 2 C Sainz Sp Lancia 84 3 J Kankkunen Fin Toyota 74 4 A Schwarz Ger M'bishi 31 5 F Delecour Bel Ford 30 8 C McRae GB Subaru 21 MANUFACTURERS' TITLE 1 Toyota 145 pts *CHAMPIONS* 2 Subaru 129 3 Ford 88 4 Mitsubishi 41 5 Renault 4 = Skoda 4Finland's Tommi Makinen notched his first ever victory in the world rally championship when he took the 1,000 Lakes in his Ford Cosworth. But there was consolation for Toyota, who picked up their second consecutive world constructors title as Didier Aurio l was second. Former world champion Carlos Sainz of Spain was third in a Subaru Impreza, 1min 4sec off the pace. Toyota have 145 points to 129 for Subaru, and only eight of the season's 10 races are counted in the standings.
29.08.94F3:- Jan Magnussen clinched the British Formula Three Championship at Silverstone with wins in rounds 15 and 16 of the series. The Dane qualified for the first race on pole and swiftly collected the 12 points necessary to claim the title. Magnussen's titl e is the third in succession for his team, Paul Stewart Racing. His victory also equalled the late Ayrton Senna's record of 12 wins in a season.
TOURING CARS: From Brands Hatch Result - Round 16 mins:secs 1 J Winkelhock BMW 25.52 2 G Tarquini Alfa Romeo 25.53 3 G Simoni Alfa Romeo 25.56 4 T Harvey Renault Laguna 26.02 5 S Soper BMW 26.07 6 P Watts Peugeot 405 26.08 7 A Menu Renault Laguna 26.08 8 E O'Brien Peugeot 405 26.08 9 J Lammers Volvo 850 26.11 10 J Bailey Toyota Carina 26.11 Result - Round 17 mins:secs 1 J Winkelhock BMW 23.27 2 G Tarquini Alfa Romeo 23.28 3 G Simoni Alfa Romeo 23.30 4 S Soper BMW 23.34 5 J Lammers Volvo 850 23.38 6 J Bailey Toyota Carina 23.38 7 A Menu Renault Laguna 23.42 8 R Rydell Volvo 850 23.48 9 T Needell Nissan Primera 23.54 10 N Smith Vaux Cavalier 24.05 30.08.94F1:- Benetton driver Michael Schumacher has failed with his appeal against the two race ban imposed by the FIA. Schumacher was attempting to reduce the punishment of a six-points deduction and a two-race suspension imposed on him for ignoring a black flag at the British Grand Prix. The International Automobile Federation's court of appeals upheld his disqualification and the sanctions handed down in July. German driver Schumacher leads the Formula One driver's championship by 21 points from Damon Hill.
MANSELL:- Nigel Mansell will end his two-year participation in US IndyCar racing to rejoin the Williams Formula One team for the rest of the season. Mansell will drive the final four races on the IndyCar schedule, then join Williams for the last three gra nds prix of 1994. His first F1 race will be in Jerez at the European Grand Prix on October 6 with further appearances at Suzuka and Adelaide. He will partner fellow Briton Damon Hill, replacing Scotland's David Coulthard at Williams-Renault.
Nigel Mansell's return to Formula One has been warmly welcomed by Williams team boss Frank Williams. He said: "I think Nigel enjoyed his race in France and the fact he is prepared to come back for the final three seems to underline this. Nigel never ta kes an easy option and coming to Formula One after two seasons in another series confirms this," he added. Williams would not comment further on reports that Mansell would stay with the team in the 1995 season.
Nigel Mansell has been given a send-off by his US Indycar team following his decision to return to the Formula One scene. Newman/Haas racing boss Carl A Haas said he hopes Mansell prospers in his comeback with Williams-Renault. "Paul Newman and I have enjoyed our success with Nigel," said Haas. "We became friends and we made history. We all wish him the best of luck and success in the future and I know our friendship will continue."
31.08.94 - F1Michael Schumacher's Benetton team have claimed that the FIA bent its own rules by disqualifying him at the Belgian Grand Prix. Schumacher, who had victory wiped out after officials ruled that he had committed a technical offence, will have an appeal agai nst the decision heard in London on Monday. A copy of Benetton's grounds of appeal says that stewards did not follow correct procedure. Benetton claim that the decision to disqualify was made solely on a statement by the course clerk.