STREET FIGHTING FOR TYRRELL YAMAHA

After its fine performance at the San Marino Grand Prix a fortnight
ago - where Mika Salo and Ukyo Katayama both ran strongly in
points-scoring positions before they had to retire - the Tyrrell
Yamaha team goes to Monaco in high spirits with the aim of fighting
with the front runners in the streets of Monte Carlo.

In preparation for the race, the team tested yesterday (Thursday)
at Silverstone in difficult and changing weather conditions. Mika
drove 27 laps with a best time of 1 min 30.8 sec and Ukyo 32 laps
with a fastest lap of 1 min 30.3 sec.

Harvey Postlethwaite, Managing Director - Engineering, said: "After
a promising performance at Imola, I am looking forward to going to
Monte Carlo because we can be equally quick there. We are searching
very hard for reliability and we tested at Silverstone yesterday a
number of modifications to the Yamaha engine."

Postlethwaite added: "For Monaco, we will have some small
modifications to the aerodynamics and the steering geometry that we
tested on Thursday. Nothing major but small improvements which
should help our street circuit performance."

Before leaving the Northamptonshire track, Ukyo Katayama said: "We
had a good test today and we continued to improve the car. The new
steering geometry feels good."

Ukyo added: "I prefer fast circuits but Monaco is different because
its good fun to dice at 270 km/h between walls with an F1 car! And
its not every day that you can drive at that speed in the streets
without being stopped by the police!"

Mika Salo said: "Last year Monaco was the most difficult circuit to
learn and it will be easier for me this time. In 1995 I really
learnt the track during the race. I will have to drive a few laps
to remember all the curbs but I will have Thursday to perfect my
lines. The 024 is excellent and the Yamaha V10 is very drivable so
we should be competitive again this weekend. It was a good feeling
to fight with the leaders at Imola and we have the potential to be
at the front at every race. The Monaco Grand Prix is really tough
for the teams and the drivers but what a show for the fans!"

Mike Gascoyne, Deputy Technical Director commented: "Monaco is
unique. It's a narrow street circuit, bumpy and dirty with changing
grip conditions. Cars will be running with maximum down force and
you need an F1 car that handles well in low-speed corners. The
track is hard on transmissions and cooling is also important. It's
a very difficult race to finish and qualifying is vital as it is
almost impossible to overtake. Based on our pace at Imola, which is
now a succession of low speed corners and chicanes, the 024 should
handle well at Monaco. But we must get qualifying right..."

The Monaco Grand Prix will be held on the unique 3.328 kms / 2.068
miles street circuit in the streets of Monte Carlo. The 78 lap
259.584 kms / 161.332 miles race will start at 14:30 hours local
time on Sunday 19 May and is expected to last nearly two hours.



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