Team Lotus Press Release - 6 November 1994


TEAM LOTUS
powered by Mugen Honda


FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

        GRAND PRIX  JAPANESE GRAND PRIX
           CIRCUIT  SUZUKA
              DATE  SUNDAY 6 NOVEMBER 1994
ALESSANDRO ZANARDI  13TH
         MIKA SALO  10TH

RACE RESULT
1st  Hill         Williams
2nd  Schumacher   Benetton
3rd  Alesi        Ferrari
4th  Mansell      Williams
5th  Irvine       Jordan
6th  Frentzen     Sauber
7th  Hakkinen     McLaren
8th  Fittipaldi   Footwork
9th  Comas        Larrousse
10th Salo         TEAM LOTUS
11th Panis        Ligier
13th Zanardi      TEAM LOTUS

CONSTRUCTORS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
1st  Williams    108 pts
2nd  Benetton    103 pts
3rd  Ferrari      64 pts
4th  McLaren      38 pts
5th  Jordan       25 pts
6th  Tyrrell      13 pts
7th  Sauber       12 pts
8th  Ligier       11 pts
9th  Footwork      9 pts
10th Minardi       5 pts
11th Larrouse      2 pts

DRIVERS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
1st  Schumacher   92 pts
2nd  Hill         91 pts
3rd  Berger       35 pts
4th  Hakkinen     26 pts
5th  Alesi        23 pts
6th  Barrichello  16 pts
7th  Coulthard    14 pts
8th  Brundle      12 pts
9th  Verstappen   10 pts
10th Blundell      8 pts
11th Panis         7 pts
12th Frentzen      7 pts

Friday 4 November - Free Practice & Qualifying
Alessandro Zanardi:  17th  1:39.721
  "This morning the car was difficult to drive, with the back end sliding
   too much.  That's why I spun in the first corner at the end of free
   practice.  Then this afternoon I had a car in front of me on each of
   my quick laps.  I'm really pleased with the work that we did, because
   we identified the way to improve the car.  It's now easier to drive,
   and though it's still not quite the way I want it, we have a good
   direction to pursue tomorrow."
Mika Salo:  25th  1:41.805
  "I was making a few little mistakes on every lap as today is the first
   time that I have driven an F1 car and at the end of my run I was
   getting used to the semi-automatic gearchange.  There isn't enough
   grip at the rear yet so the car is quite difficult to drive, but I
   didn't spin.  Physically I didn't have any problem so I was able to
   acclimatise myself without too much trouble.  Knowing the circuit 
   was a help too"
Peter Collins:
  "There's a little more to come from the car, and we hope to find that
   tomorrow.  Mika did an exceptional job today, considering that this
   is a very difficult circuit and that he has never driven an F1 car
   before."

Saturday 5 November - Free Practice & Qualifying
Alessandro Zanardi: 17th  1:39.721
  "The car felt more stable, and if there had been less traffic I think
   I could have done a time in the high 1m 38s.  If it hadn't rained this
   afternoon, I am confident we would have improved.  Whether it rains
   tomorrow or not, I'm confident I'll be able to overtake a lot of
   people, because the engine is really good.
Mika Salo: 25th 1:41.805
  "It was very slippy out there!  It's unfortunate that I lost so much
   time yesterday and again this morning with electrical problems, because
   that cost me a lot of laps in the car, but I am happy enough.  I feel
   comfortable with the way things are going."
Peter Collins:
  "I'm very pleased with the progress that we made with the set-up in
   free practice this morning, but that makes it more frustrating that
   the weather changed this afternoon.  But for that, I am confident
   that we would have qualified both cars in significantly higher
   positions on the grid."

Sunday 6 November - Race
Alessandro Zanardi:
  "The whole rear section of my car's diffusor was completely broken by the
   end of the race. even the floor at the back.  Right the way through I
   was having a real problem handling it without any downforce.  My other
   problem is that right from the restart I lost both mirrors.  At the
   end I was driving looking to each side all the time.  I could see the
   blue flag and I expected Damon Hill and Michael Schumacher to come by
   me at any moment.  I wanted desperately not to be the one who might
   accidentally determine the outcome of the World Championship."
Mika Salo:
  "I had no grip at all at the back of the car, but it was really quick
   in a straightline!  This car is easy to spin in these conditions, so
   I am pleased that I haven't spun it all weekend.  I'm delighted to
   finish my first Grand Prix with 10th place.  It was very busy at the
   start, but to be honest it was a bit boring towards the end."

Team Lotus is pleased to confirm that Mika Salo will continue to partner
Alessandro Zanardi in next weekend's Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide.

ROUND 16 - AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX, ADELAIDE - SUNDAY 13 NOVEMBER 1994

-- 
Alan F. Perry
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