========================== (-: Formula 1 NEWS :-) ======================== The Electronic Formula 1 News Service for the Internet World Wide Web server at http://www.u-net.com/enigma/formula1 *** December 6th 1995*** *** Issue Number 4 *** ========================================================================== In This Issue * Mika Hakkinen Released From Hospital * Pacific Quit * DAMS Still Uncertain * FIA 1996 F1 Team List Issued * Irvine Testing Well * Coulthard Starts Testing * Prost Joins McLaren * Ligier To Announce New Sponsor * Blundell or Herbert for Sauber Mika Hakkinen Released From Hospital Mika Hakkinen has been released from hospital and is now at his home in Monaco. He flew back on Sunday in a specially equipped medical jet accompanied by doctors. It is expected to be at least six weeks before Hakkinen will be able to undergo tests to see if he will be fit in time for the 96 season. He also needs an operation to restore his hearing to full strength, another injury caused by his accident. It has been revealed that Mika was extremely fortunate that head injury expert Dr, Stephen Lewis was one of the first medical personell on the scene of his accident. Dr. Lewis has said ÒNot many people can do what he did to their head and get away with itÓ. Mika will undergo further treatment in Europe. Pacific Quit The Thetford based Pacific F1 team have quit due to financial reasons. The Pacific company is not in debt or insolvent, it just can not afford to keep pouring money into its F1 project. Managing Director Keith Wiggins said that despite trying very hard to establish their position in Formula 1, their difficult financial position has hindered them. Pacific are the 17th F1 casualty since 1989. (AGS, Andrea Moda Formula, Brabham, Coloni, EuroBrun, Fondmetal, Larrousse, Life, Lotus, March, Modena, Onyx, Rial, Scuderia Italia, Simtek and Zakspeed) DAMS In, DAMS Out, DAMS do the Hokey Cokey? (English Humour, Sorry ;-) ) The DAMS team was not on the official list of F1 competitors for the 96 season. They are still working on their car and it is unclear if they will be in F1 next year. Though it is looking more unlikely by the week. Without Simtek and Pacific the F1 list for next year only has 11 entries. FIA 1996 F1 Team List Issued The official team listings for 1996 have been issued. Ferrari Schumacher 1 Irvine 2 Benetton Alesi 3 Berger 4 Williams Hill 5 Villeneuve 6 McLaren Hakkinen 7 Coulthard 8 Ligier 9 10 Jordan Barrichello 11 Brundle 12 Sauber 14 Frentzen 15 Footwork 16 17 Tyrrell 18 Salo 19 Minardi 20 21 Forti 22 23 Irvine Testing Well Eddie Irvine has started testing for Ferrari, he has been at Fiorino with the V12. His sessions so far have been more familiarisation than out and out testing. Running with a heavy fuel load he managed a fastest lap of 1.02.71 (Track record 1.01.87 N. Larini) and appears to be settling in. Eddie will be off to Estoril next week where he and team mate Schumacher will again be testing the new V10 engine (still not in the new chassis) and running the old V12. Coulthard Starts Testing David Coulthard has started testing the McLaren MP4/10B at Jerez. So far his best time has been 1.25.84 which compares well with the last GP held at Jerez (1990 fastest lap R. Patreses 1.24.513). Prost Joins McLaren Alain Prost has rejoined McLaren as part of the McLaren Mercedes technical group. As part of the development programme his duties will include testing the MP4/11. Ligier To Announce New Sponsor It is expected that the Ligier team will announce a new sponsorship deal with Italian dairy giant Parmalat for 1996. Parmalat backed the Forti team last year. Blundell or Herbert for Sauber It is expected that Sauber will announce which driver will partner Frentzen next year. Both Herbert and Blundell have strong Indy Car options, and Herbert also has had talks with Tyrrell though this drive looks unlikely. Check out our Web Site at: http://www.u-net.com/enigma/formula1 Updated news available from the home page. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- To Unsubscribe send e-mail with "Unsubscribe F1" in the body. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 1995 Formula News. This publication is free for the Internet community and may be reposted without restriction. None of these articles are guaranteed 100% true. We report it as we hear it. In many cases one weeks story will be completely opposite to the next weeks, but then thatÕs life. Formula 1 News is edited by Neil Whiley. (Neil@bigvern.demon.co.uk).