January 1995

01.01.95 - GRANADA-DAKAR RALLY

CAR STANDINGS AFTER STAGE 1: hrs:mins.secs
1 T Salonen      Fin  Citroen  2:10.33
2 A Vatenen      Fin  Citroen   @ 3.02
3 P Lartigue     Fr   Citroen   @ 3.40
4 JP Fontenay    Fr   M'bishi   @ 9.53
5 B Saby         Fr   M'bishi  @ 11.48




02.01.95
F1:- David Coulthard has signed for the Williams Formula One team for 1995, as number two driver to Damon Hill. The 23-year-old Scot has signed a contract which, it is believed, should net him around œ500,000 in his first full season. Williams opted for Coulthard in preference to former world champion Nigel Mansell. The 41-year-old could be forced to retire if he is unable to find a drive, although he could link up with Mika Hakkinen at McLaren.


GRANADA-DAKAR RALLY

CAR STANDINGS AFTER STAGE 2: hrs mins secs
1 T Salonen   Fin  Citroen     4:43:56
2 P Lartigue  Fr   Citroen     4:45:21
3 A Vatanen   Fin  Citroen     4:47:36
4 JP Fontenay Fr   Mitsubishi  4:50:15
5 B Saby      Fr   Mitsubishi  4:51:45
Citroen continued to dominate as fog replaced torrential rain on the second day of the gruelling event. Timo Salonen remained in the lead while Pierre Lartigue overhauled teammate Ari Vatanen to put his Citroen in second place. Jean Pierre Fontenay led the Mitsubishi challenge, closing the gap considerably on the shortened stage to Er Rachidia.

Thick fog prevented any competition during the first part of stage two, with the 93 motor cycles, 85 cars and 66 trucks travelling in convoy. They finally entered the stage in the village of El Ateuf, about 30km after the original start.

Rochester Racing, Britain's only entry in the event, were given an early surprise when they found themselves upgraded by organisers. Mark Dutton and his brother Simon, with mechanic Nick Morgan, found their 110 Landrover switched to the same class as the factory teams. "Realistically we are not going to win against the big teams but it is an honour to be racing against the like of Ari Vatanen, Bruno Saby and Pierre Lartigue," said Mark Dutton. The British crew were 70th overall in the car category after stage one.




03.01.95
F1:- The cash starved Lotus team has announced that it will continue its struggle to race in Formula One. But a statement issued by the team confirmed that the staff lay-off, which had originally been until December 31, has now been extended until January 16. Team owner David Hunt remains defiant that he can continue. He said: "We have several very positive negotiations underway, a couple of which may bear fruit within the next fortnight or so."

GRANADA-DAKAR RALLY:- Citroen continued to dominate as fog replaced torrential rain on the second day of the gruelling event. Timo Salonen remained in the lead while Pierre Lartigue overhauled teammate Ari Vatanen to put his Citroen in second place. Jean Pierre Fontenay led the Mitsubishi challenge, closing the gap considerably on the shortened stage to Er Rachidia.

Thick fog prevented any competition during the first part of stage two, with the 93 motor cycles, 85 cars and 66 trucks travelling in convoy. They finally entered the stage in the village of El Ateuf, about 30km after the original start.




04.01.95
PEUGEOT:- Peugeot's racing plans in Britain have received a huge boost with the news of backing from Total Oil GB. The agreement includes the British Touring Car Championship, the British Rally Championship and the Peugeot Challenge events. Total Team Peugeot have already looked promising in winter testing for the BTCC but they have yet to name a teammate for Patrick Watts. Martin Rowe drives the works 306S16 in the British Rally Championship while the British Junior series exclusively uses the 306S16.

GRANADA-DAKAR RALLY:- Finn Ari Vatanen almost doubled his lead on the fourth day of the event despite briefly losing his way. The desert ace started the leg more than seven minutes clear of Citroen teammate Pierre Lartigue of France and finished 14 minutes ahead of teammate Timo Salonen now in second. The day's best performance came from Jean-Pierre Fontenay in his Mitsubishi but Vatanen recovered from his diversion to finish in a quicker time than his other rivals. Lartigue slipped back after a number of mechanical problems.

Brothers Mark and Simon Dutton continued their good progress on the fourth stage of the rally. The Rochester Racing Team duo, the only British entry in the event, moved up eight places overall to 86th in their Landrover 110. They completed the individual stage in a time of three hours 44 minutes in 83rd place. "I hope the fact they're continuing to improve will help to reinstate a little faith in British sporting achievement," said a spokesperson.

LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 4
CARS                      hrs mins secs
1 A Vatanen     Fin Citroen    13:08:31
2 T Salonen     Fin Citroen      @14:05
3 B Saby        Fr  Mitsubishi   @18:45
4 P Lartigue    Fr  Citroen      @20:18
5 J-P Fontenay  Fr  Mitsubishi   @29:23
6 K Shinozuka   Jap Mitsubishi   @43:20
7 J`L Schlesser Fr  Buggy      @2:49:38




05.01.95
TOURING CARS:- Britain's Tim Harvey has been confirmed as Volvo's second driver in this year's British Touring Car Championship. Harvey, who raced for Renault last season, will partner Sweden's Rickard Rydell, who has now recovered from a collapsed lung. "I'm really looking forward to the new season," said Harvey. "This team is certainly on its way up, and I think we can win races this year," he added.

GRANADA-DAKAR RALLY:- Bruno Saby took advantage of two punctures hampering Ari Vatanen by closing the gap on the Finnish leader on the fifth leg. The 1993 winner Saby stormed along the stony desert route through Morocco to beat Timo Salonen's Citroen by eight minutes. Vatanen, who had been over 14 minutes ahead of Salonen overnight, finished nearly nine minutes behind Saby after his tyre problems.

Brothers Mark and Simon Dutton continued their good progress on the fifth stage of the rally. The Rochester Racing Team duo, the only British entry in the event, came 73rd in the stage in 7 hours 28 minutes to move to 75th overall. It is an even greater achievement as the pair have no mechanic and no support vehicles which means they have to work on the car at night. On Friday they face the first marathon stage of 577 km before the longest stage on Saturday.

LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 5
CARS                      hrs mins secs
1 A Vatanen     Fin Citroen    17:20:31
2 B Saby        Fr  Mitsubishi 17:30:30
3 T Salonen     Fin Citroen    17:33:32
4 P Lartigue    Fr  Citroen    17:43:33
5 J-P Fontenay  Fr  Mitsubishi 17:48:56
6 K Shinozuka   Jap Mitsubishi 18:08:03
7 J`L Schlesser Fr  Buggy      21:09:19




06.01.95
F1:- McLaren boss Ron Dennis is refusing to reveal who will partner Mika Hakkinen in the team next season. Former world champion Nigel Mansell is the most likely candidate to join the Finn although Martin Brundle has also been suggested. "Our drivers have been pretty much decided for quite a few weeks," said Dennis. "The annoucement will take place in the next few weeks." Brundle, who drove for McLaren last season, said: "Quite clearly discussions have taken place. But I haven't yet signed for McLaren."

TARMAC SERIES RALLY:- The first round of the National Tarmac Series gets underway at Llandrindod Wells on Saturday with Llanelli's Bob Fowden heading the list of entries.

GRANADA-DAKAR RALLY:- Ari Vatanen is firmly back in charge after taking the sixth leg by a margin of almost 10 minutes to double his overall lead. His Citroen encountered no problems as he stormed through the Moroccan desert taking the rally to the Mauritanian border. The Finnish veteran had lost eight minutes to Bruno Saby on Thursday with two punctures but Saby's Mitsubishi had no answer.

LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 6
CARS                      hrs mins secs
1 A Vatanen     Fin Citroen    21:16:07
2 B Saby        Fr  Mitsubishi 21:35:15
3 P Lartigue    Fr  Citroen    21:50:45
4 T Salonen     Fin Citroen    22:02:04
5 J-P Fontenay  Fr  Mitsubishi 22:06:19
6 K Shinozuka   Jp  Mitsubishi 22:13:47
7 J-L Schlesser Fr  Buggy      26:10:40




07.01.95
TARMAC SERIES RALLY:- Reigning national champion Pete Doughty won the opening round of the EARS/Motoring News National Tarmac Series at Llandrindod Wells. The Sierra Cosworth driver was 18 seconds faster than Richard Moore, driving a Subaru Impreza.

GRANADA-DAKAR RALLY:- Ari Vatanen tightened his grip on the Dakar rally as main rival Bruno Saby hit serious difficulties in the sand dunes of the Sahara. The Frenchman's Mitsubishi suffered mechanical problems and he lost more than half an hour on the Finn's Citroen, dropping to third. Vatanen now goes into Sunday's rest day with a 45 minute lead over Citroen teammate Pierre Lartigue.

Brothers Mark and Simon Dutton, Britain's only team in the rally, have been forced out by a sandstorm and a broken transmission. The Duttons, sponsored by Rochester upon Medway City Council, spurned the offer of a tow and continued to try and fix the problems themselves. They were still 125 miles from the Dakar base although the team in London had not heard from them. Despite not reaching Dakar they have got further than any other British team and had been gaining eight or nine places every day.

LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 7
CARS                      hrs mins secs
1 A Vatanen     Fin Citroen    26:46:36
2 P Lartigue    Fr  Citroen    27:32:35
3 B Saby        Fr  Mitsubishi 27:36:12
4 J-P Fontenay  Fr  Mitsubishi 28:00:48
5 K Shinozuka   Jp  Mitsubishi 29:30:46
6 J-L Schlesser Fr  Buggy      32:25:34




09.01.95
F1:- Simtek have signed Japan's Hideki Noda to drive their new S951 car in the 1995 Grand Prix season. The 25-year-old took part in GPs at Jerez, Suzuka and Adelaide last season in a Larrousse-Ford.

Benetton managing director Flavio Briatore is recovering in hospital in Paris after surgery to repair a slipped disc in his back.

F3:- Britain's Warren Hughes has teamed up with Alan Docking Racing and Japanese car firm Mitsubishi for this year's British Formula Three Championship. Lack of funds forced him out of last year's series.

GRANADA-DAKAR RALLY:- A broken radiator cost Ari Vatanen all chance of a fifth title in the Dakar rally. He ended up stranded in the desert on Monday and unable to defend the lead he has held for the best part of a week. Vatanen's Citroen broke down on the eighth leg from Zouerat across the Mauretanian sands. He bought water from nomads and got his car going again but only for a few kilometres. Teammate Pierre Lartigue took over the lead and he is 20 minutes ahead of Mitsubishi driver Bruno Saby.

LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 8
CARS                      hrs mins secs
1 P Lartigue    Fr  Citroen    33:35:03
2 B Saby        Fr  Mitsubishi 33:55:26
3 K Shinozuka   Jp  Mitsubishi 36:13:07
4 J-P Fontenay  Fr  Mitsubishi 36:47:19
5 J-L Schlesser Fr  Buggy      39:58:23
6 D Guedes      Por Nissan     43:47:34




10.01.95
Outsider Jean-Pierre Fontenay stole stole the show from the race favourites by winning the ninth stage in the Mauritanian sands. Frenchman Fontenay, driving a Mitsubishi, was fastest in the day's 347-km leg from Chinguetti. Finn Ari Vatanen took second place in his Citroen, three minutes 34 seconds behind. Defending champion Pierre Lartigue retained the overall lead by driving into a cautious fifth place and he is widely expected to clinch the title again.

LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 9
CARS                      hrs mins secs
1 P Lartigue    Fr  Citroen    38:58:02
2 B Saby        Fr  Mitsubishi 39:19:27
3 K Shinozuka   Jp  Mitsubishi 41:34:59
4 J-P Fontenay  Fr  Mitsubishi 41:52:31
5 T Salonen     Fin Citroen    46:08:27
6 J-L Schlesser Fr  Buggy      47:05:43




11.01.95 - GRANADA-DAKAR RALLY

LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 10
CARS                      hrs mins secs
1 P Lartigue    Fr  Citroen    45:38:00
2 B Saby        Fr  Mitsubishi 46:27:27
3 J-P Fontenay  Fr  Mitsubishi 48:46:54
4 K Shinozuka   Jp  Mitsubishi 49:36:21
5 T Salonen     Fin Citroen    53:18:37
6 J-L Schlesser Fr  Buggy      55:05:43
Last year's winner Pierre Lartigue increased his lead over fellow Frenchman Bruno Saby to over 49 minutes with just four days to go. The Citroen driver took advantage of Saby's mechanical difficulties in his Mitsubishi to cushion himself from the 1993 champion. Jean-Pierre Fontenay gave France a stranglehold on the event by overtaking Japan's Kenjiro Shinozuka and moving into third.




13.01.95
RALLYING:- Subaru have confirmed that Britain's Colin McRae and Spaniard Carlos Sainz will head-up their challenge for the 1995 World Rally Championship. The team will enter three cars on each of the eight rounds and one of the selected specialist drivers to fill the third berth will be Britain's Richard Burns.

RENAULT:- In a bid to find more women racing drivers Renault UK will award a special edition Clio to the top female driver in the 1995 Elf Renault Clio UK Cup, along with the "Coupe des Dames" title.


GRANADA-DAKAR RALLY
LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 12

CARS                      hrs mins secs
1 P Lartigue    Fr  Citroen    58:56:08
2 B Saby        Fr  Mitsubishi 62:50:25
3 K Shinozuka   Jp  Mitsubishi 63:17:05
4 T Salonen     Fin Citroen    66:44:50
5 A Vatanen     Fin Citroen    75:59:55
6 D Guedes      Por Nissan     76:06:20
Frenchman Pierre Lartigue moved closer to a second Dakar rally title by winning the 12th stage in the Guinean forest. The defending champion was fastest in his Citroen in the day's muddy, 628-km haul from Bakel in Senegal. Teammate Ari Vatanen of Finland trailed him by two minutes 20 seconds in second place. Fourth place allowed 1993 winner Bruno Saby, driving a Mitsubishi, to take second place overall from teammate and fellow Frenchman Jean-Pierre Fontenay.




14.01.95 - GRANADA-DAKAR RALLY

LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 13

CARS                      hrs mins secs
1 P Lartigue    Fr  Citroen    67:07:19
2 B Saby        Fr  Mitsubishi 70:44:18
3 M Shinozuka   Jp  Mitsubishi 71:26:41
4 M Fontenay    Jpn Mitsubishi 74:13:12
5 T Salonen     Fin Citroen    74:52:32
Ari Vatanen escaped unhurt when he wrote off his car in a spectacular crash during the penultimate leg. The four-times winner was out of contention when he overturned his Citroen during the 600-km haul through muddy tracks to Senegal. Race leader Pierre Lartigue of France finished fifth to maintain a comfortable overall advantage over Mitsubishi driver Bruno Saby. Lartigue's countryman Jean-Pierre Fontenay, driving a Mitsubishi, won the leg in seven hours 42 minutes 54 seconds.




15.01.95 - GRANADA-DAKAR RALLY

FINAL LEADERBOARD (after 14 stages):

CARS                      hrs mins secs
1 P Lartigue    Fr  Citroen    72:17:44
2 B Saby        Fr  Mitsubishi 75:42:37
3 K Shinozuka   Jpn Mitsubishi 76:27:48
4 J-P Fontenay  Fr  Mitsubishi 79:29:52
5 T Salonen     Fin Citroen    80:07:00
Frenchman Pierre Lartigue in a Citroen survived a tough final stage to claim a second successive victory in the gruelling event. Lartigue came fourth on the stage to win by 3 hrs 24 mins 53 secs from Bruno Saby in a Mitsubishi. Saby was fastest on Sunday's stage.




17.01.95 - F1
The Lotus Formula One team has been forced to withdraw from this season's championship. They have been plagued by financial problems for some time and have been unable to attract the sponsorship they need to compete. Britain's Johnny Herbert raced in 13 Grands Prix for the team last season, finishing seventh on three occasions, their highest placing. Lotus was founded in 1958 and raced in the championship every year since, winning six world drivers' titles and seven constructors'.

The Lotus Formula One team has finally bowed to financial pressure and closed down after 36 years. The team, founded by Colin Chapman, won World titles with Jim Clark (63/65), Graham Hill (68), Jochen Rindt (70), Emerson Fittipaldi (72) and Mario Andretti (78). Johnny Herbert, who drove for Lotus last year, said: "While Lotus is a big name it costs millions to make the car work for the name. It was very tough the way things went towards the end of last year. They will be missed very much."

Lotus managing director, David Hunt has vowed to fight on despite making the team's near 60-strong workforce redundant. Hunt, brother of the late former world champion James, is confident it is not the end of one of the great names in Formula One. "With regard to the future, our commitment is still to get Team Lotus to the grid in good order," he said. "We are open to all possibilities that can realistically put Team Lotus back where it belongs."




18.01.95 - F1
Formula One driver Mika Hakkinen will decide in mid-February whether he can aim for the 1995 world title. Hakkinen is helping to develop the new Marlboro McLaren Mercedes and testing next month should determine whether the car will be competitive. "In a way it is a transitional year and anything can happen," said the Finn. "If the car handles well then I will aim for the Championship. This year I feel more confident in my ability to analyse what the engine is doing and assess problems - I'm sure we'll progress rapidly."

Eddie Jordan and Jean Alesi are both determined to record their first Grand Prix win this year. Jordan saw his team finish fifth in the 1994 constructors championship and confidently said: "I think we are ready to win a race this year." Brazilian Rubens Barrichello and Irishman Eddie Irvine will again be driving for Jordan, this year in cars powered by Peugeot engines. Alesi, in his fifth consecutive season with Ferrari, said: "We will be shooting for the world title which will give me my own chances."




19.01.95 - F1
McLaren are denying reports that they have signed former World Champion Nigel Mansell for the 1995 Formula One season. Stories in several British newspapers claim that a one-year deal was sealed last weekend, but McLaren have scotched the rumours. Team spokesman Norman Howell said: "We have not signed him. He is just one of several drivers we have been talking to about filling a seat." McLaren say they are still in the process of selecting a partner to race alongside Finn Mika Hakkinen.




21.01.95 - THE MONTE-CARLO RALLY
Scot Colin McRae will be among the favourites when the 1995 World Championship opener gets underway. The Subaru Impreza 555 driver is full of confidence after his RAC Rally win at the end of last season but faces tough competition over the 21 icy alpine stages. His main rival will be the first French world champion Didier Auriol who launches his title defence in a new Toyota Celica GT Four. "Winning Monte Carlo gives me great confidence for the whole year," said the '90, '92 and '93 winner.

Francois Delecour will be keen to prove he is back on top form in the Ford Escort Cosworth with a second successive victory in Monte Carlo. His teammate in the combined Ford factory and RAS Sport team will be talented Belgian Bruno Thiry. Former world champions Carlos Sainz (Subaru) and Juha Kankkunen in his Toyota will also be looking for top places and points for their teams. This year the points of the top two cars from each team will count in the battle for the World Championship for Manufacturers.

Nigel Heath and Jeff Ashfield are the highest seeded British crew in their Ford Escort Cosworth at 57. Robert and Michael Plant will be looking for a finish in their Mini. Competitors start from six cities - Bad Homburg, Barcelona, Lausanne, Monte Carlo, Rheims or Turin and assemble for the first loop of six special stages in Valence on Monday. A further six stages take the crews to Digne les Bairns with the leaders arriving in Monaco around midday on Wednesday. They finish on Thursday morning after night stages.




23.01.95 - THE MONTE-CARLO RALLY
Carlos Sainz ended the first day in the lead after Colin McRae saw his early hopes dashed in the snow. Sainz finished 44 seconds ahead of Frenchman Francois Delecour with Finland's Tommy Makinen in third. McRae led after the first stage but on the next he crashed into a snow-bank, losing two-and-a-half minutes. The Scot recovered to win the fifth stage while Delecour recorded the fastest time on the sixth and final stage of the day.

Positions after 6 of 22 stages:
                            hrs mins secs
 1 C Sainz     Sp  Subaru      1:53.11
 2 F Delecour  Fr  Ford        1:53.55
 3 T Makinen   Fin Mitsubishi  1:54.49
 4 D Auriol    Fr  Toyota      1:55.07
 5 J Kankunnen Fin Toyota      1:55.10
 6 B Thiry     Bel Ford        1:55.11
 7 P Liatti    It  Subaru      1:55.50
 8 A Schwarz   Ger Toyota      1:55.51
 9 C McRae     GB  Subaru      1:56.24
10 P Bugalski  Fr  Renault     1:57.30
End of day one




24.01.95 - THE MONTE-CARLO RALLY                       

Positions after 12 of 22 stages: (end of day two)
                            hrs mins secs
 1 C Sainz     Sp  Subaru      3:53.00
 2 F Delecour  Fr  Ford        3:53.26
 3 T Makinen   Fin Mitsubishi  3:54.08
 4 J Kankkunen Fin Toyota      3:56.31
 5 D Auriol    Fr  Toyota      3:56.33
 6 B Thiry     Bel Ford        3:57.52
 7 A Aghini    It  Mitsubishi  4:01.06
 8 P Bugalski  Fr  Renault     4:03.56
 9 A Schwarz   Ger Toyota      4:04.54
10 J Ragnotti  Fr  Renault     4:15.09
Colin McRae crashed out of the rally on the last special stage in Monte Carlo. The Scot had guided his Subaru into sixth place but plunged off the road after hitting ice at Sisteron and was forced to retire. Carlos Sainz began the leg with a 44-second lead but was overhauled by Francois Delecour briefly after the Frenchman changed tyres. Sainz responded on Stage 11 as he also changed tyres and went back ahead to lead by 26 seconds.




25.01.95
F1:- Martin Brundle has returned to the French team Ligier, leaving the way clear for Nigel Mansell to drive for McLaren-Mercedes this season. McLaren boss Ron Dennis is said to be close to finalising a deal with Mansell which could be worth œ10 million to the former champion. Brundle, who drove for Ligier in 1993, shares the second car with Japan's Aguri Suzuki while Olivier Panis drives the number one car. The news means that Johnny Herbert is likely to join world champion Michael Schumacher at Benetton.



THE MONTE CARLO RALLY

Positions after 15 of 22 stages:
                           hrs mins secs
 1 C Sainz     Sp  Subaru      4:38:54
 2 F Delecour  Fr  Ford        4:39:06
 3 T Makinen   Fin Mitsubishi  4:39:58
 4 J Kankkunen Fin Toyota      4:42:08
 5 D Auriol    Fr  Toyota      4:42:24
 6 B Thiry     Bel Ford        4:43:41
 7 A Aghini    It  Mitsubishi  4:47:26
 8 A Schwarz   Ger Toyota      4:50:56
 9 P Bugalski  Fr  Renault     4:52:50
10 J Ragnotti  Fr  Renault     5:02:31
End of third leg
Francois Delecour closed the gap on leader Carlos Sainz to 12 seconds to set up an exciting finale. The defending champion, who started the day 26 seconds behind Spaniard Sainz's Subaru, gained 14 seconds in just three timed stages. Ford driver Delecour took every risk on slippery roads in the mountains overlooking the principality to keep alive his chances of a second title. World champion Didier Auriol slipped out of contention in fifth place - over three minutes adrift.




26.01.95 - THE MONTE-CARLO RALLY

Final Result                       hr:min:sec
 1 C Sainz        Subaru Imprezza    6:32:31
 2 F Delecour     Ford Escort Cos    6:34:56
 3 J Kankkunen    Toyota Celica GT4  6:36:28
 4 T Makinen      Mitsubishi Lancer  6:37:12
 5 B Thiry        Ford Escort Cos    6:39:18
 6 A Aghini       Mitsubishi Lancer  6:43:17
 7 J Ragnotti     Renault Clio Maxi  7:04:26
 8 P Liatti       Subaru Imprezza    7:09:54
 9 P Camandona    Ford Escort Cos(N) 7:13:01
10 I Holderied    Mit'bi Lancer (N)  7:13:34
It was heart break for Tommi Makinen on the final day. Going into the final stage with a 30 second advantage, he had front differential trouble, which left him with rear-wheel drive. Kankkunen slipped through into third. It was a good rally for Renault, their 2-litre Renault Maxi finishing in seventh place. Group N was hotly contested all through the rally. The all female crew of Isolde Holderied and Tina Thorner led for most of the really, but a spin and consequent stall on the Col de Turini stage was all that was needed to let through Philippe Comandona for a 33 second category win.




27.01.95 - F1
Nigel Mansell moved a step closer to securing a Formula One drive when McLaren announced their preliminary line-up for this season. McLaren fuelled speculation that they had agreed terms with Mansell when it named Finn Mika Hakkinen as their number two driver, but left the crucial number one berth open. Mansell's chances were enhanced this week when Martin Brundle signed for Ligier rather than battle with him for a McLaren drive. Teams have until March 9 before announcing their final line-ups.

                                 Car No:
BENETTON     M Schumacher  Ger      1
             J Herbert     GB       2
TYRRELL      U Katamaya    Jpn      3
             TBA                    4
WILLIAMS     D Hill        GB       5
             D Coulthard   GB       6
McLAREN      TBA                    7
             M Hakkinen    Fin      8
ARROWS       TBA                    9
             TBA                   10
SIMTEK       H Noda        Jpn     11
             TBA                   12
JORDAN       R Barrichello Brz     14
             E Irvine      GB      15
PACIFIC      TBA                   16
             TBA                   17
LARROUSSE    TBA                   19
             E Comas       Fr      20
FORTI        P Diniz       Brz     21
             TBA                   22
MINARDI      P-L Martini   It      23
             L Badoer      It      24
LIGIER       A Suzuki/M Brundle    25  (Jpn/GB)
             O Panis       Fr      26
FERRARI      J Alesi       Fr      27
             G Berger      Aut     28
SAUBER       K Wendlinger  Aut     29
             H Frentzen    Ger     30

Jordan have officially unveiled their new œ3 million car, which they hope will bring a maiden Grand Prix victory in 1995. Rubens Barrichello and Eddie Irvine will drive the Jordan-Peugeot 195, which will be run for the first time at Silverstone next week. The team will then take the car to the Jerez circuit in Spain to continue their testing programme. The Irish government are among the team's backers and boss Eddie Jordan said: "I'm extremely excited about the year ahead."




31.01.95 - F1
McLaren are still refusing to confirm whether they have agreed terms with Nigel Mansell. The former World champion has been negotiating with the Woking outfit but his agent has denied that a deal has been struck. "Negotiations are well advanced but nothing has been signed," said Mansell's agent Sue Membury. "If it had we would be aware of it and it would be announced publicly," she added.