British Grand Prix
14th -16th July 1995
Silverstone
				   
The Marlboro McLaren Mercedes team faces the first of two major challenges
in the season so far, as the next rounds of the FIA Formula One
Championship take the competitors to England and Germany, the respective
home bases of McLaren and Mercedes. Expectations will therefore reach their
highest levels for both the race team and the engine manufacturer.

The 5.057km-long Circuit of Silverstone, situated roughly halfway between
Northampton and Oxford, is one of the oldest venues on the Formula One
calendar, having hosted the first ever round of the World Championship as
long ago as 1950. The 1995 edition of the British Grand Prix will also
be the 30th held in Northamptonshire - an anniversary marked by a total
revamping of the pits and paddock facilities, in addition to minor changes
to the track's kerbing.

Eight of the Formula One teams and four of the engine manufacturers taking
part in this weekend's race are based in England. In 1995, there will also
be six British drivers, including Marlboro McLaren Mercedes' Mark Blundell,
lining up on the grid, all of them wanting to do well in front of their
home crowd. As the fans flock into the campsites surrounding the track, the
unique atmosphere of Silverstone will gather momentum and put all British
competitors under pressure to perform.

The proximity of the circuit makes Silverstone a favourite testing ground
for these teams. Last week, in preparation to the race, Marlboro McLaren
Mercedes attended a two-day's session during which Mika Hakkinen continued
the McLaren's chassis development programme whilst Mark completed tyre
assessment duties for Goodyear and an engine durability test.

Mika finished fourth in last year's race, and was subsequently awarded
third position following Michael Schumaker's disqualification. This year,
he will be keen to climb on the rostrum rather than earn his place of the
track. Meanwhile, Mark's "Will to Win", as inscribed on his helmet, will be
reinforced by the challenge of racing in his own country and his ambition
will be to contribute valuable championship points to the team's current
tally.