JUNE 5, 1995
Hill back on top in testing
THE rapidly changing battle between World title rivals Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill continued at Silverstone in England last week in testing with Hill beating the German on both days of the test.
While some F1 teams only had time to get their cars home from Monaco, rebuild them and then despatch them to Canada, Williams, Benetton, McLaren, Tyrrell, Jordan and Arrows were all in action.
Hill's best lap was a strong 1m27.71s and Damon was joined on the second day of the test by his Williams-Renault team mate David Coulthard, who ended up third fastest overall behind Schumacher.
The German did both days of the test and was joined on the first day of the test by Simtek driver Jos Verstappen, JohnnyÊHerbert having a holiday in the south of France after the Monaco race.
McLaren had Mika Hakkinen and Mark Blundell both in action, trying a new engine cover without the "mid-ship" wing with which the team has been struggling this year. Word on the street is that the wing will not be on the cars in Canada.
Tyrrell was present for the first day of the test with cars for both Ukyo Katayama and Mika Salo, while Jordan turned up on the second day with Rubens Barrichello doing the work while Eddie Irvine went back to Ireland to learn to fly helicopters. The Jordan pit was a busy place nonetheless as the entire Brazilian national soccer quad turned up to watch Barrichello in action. On the same day Arrows turned up with test driver Max Papis.
Jordan stayed on for Friday, using the small southern circuit at the south loop with Barrichello driving once again.