AUGUST 26, 2003

Firman will be back

Ralph Firman's spectacular accident at the Hungaroring resulted in the British driver being subjected to 46G in lateral forces but the absorbent material which makes up the cockpit surround in a modern F1 car certainly did its job. Firman's head hit both sides of the cockpit but the impact was absorbed in both cases and his helmet was not damaged at all. Firman did however suffer bruising to his heel in the accident but he was back at the circuit on Sunday after a night under observation in hospital.

"I feel fine," he said. "I have a bit of a sore neck and left heel," he said, "but I am confident that I will be OK to participate in the Monza testing in a couple of weeks. I cannot wait to get back into the car and do some more miles."

Jordan is planning to spend two days at the test with Firman, Giancarlo Fisichella and the newly-crowned Formula 3000 champion Bjorn Wirdheim.