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Hungarian GP preview - BMW WilliamsF1 Team

Hungarian Grand Prix - 17/18/19-08-01- PREVIEW

The BMW WilliamsF1 Team heads to Hungary for the Grand Prix on the 19th 
August with three victories, two pole positions and five fastest laps from 
the first 12 races. However, the team is aware this race will present it with 
a difficult task, as the low-downforce Hungaroring track is almost equal to 
Monaco in being tight, twisty and one where a good grid position is vital, as 
overtaking opportunities are very rare. The Hungarian race has been one of 
highs and lows for WilliamsF1. The team won the first race there in 1986 with 
Nelson Piquet and has won seven of the 15 races. Meanwhile Nigel Mansell 
clinched his World Championship there in 1992, but in 1987 started from pole, 
led for 70 of the 76 laps and then lost a rear wheel in sight of the 
chequered flag.

Ralf Schumacher
"It is a small, narrow circuit, but it is very challenging for the drivers as 
there is one corner after another and no time to relax. As it is also usually 
hot, it is a physically demanding race. It is a race where having a good car 
is a deciding factor and if it is hot our tyres should work well. Budapest is 
a beautiful city and it is a shame we don't have enough time over a race 
weekend to enjoy the beauty of it."

Juan Pablo Montoya
"This is only my second visit to the Hungaroring. Last time in '98 I finished 
third, but one of the things I remember most is the heat. Because of this you 
get hot driving the car, as you are working all the time with no long 
straights to really cool down. It is a tight, slow track but a very 
challenging one and obviously one where a good qualifying position is 
important. As for the city of Budapest, it is really different and has a 
special charm - I like it a lot."

Sam Michael (Chief Operations Engineer)
"Hungaroring is a complete contrast to the last race in Hockenheim. It is 
dominated by slow to medium speed corners, requiring maximum levels of 
downforce and tyre grip. Mechanical set-ups are usually geared towards 
maximizing slow speed grip and traction, but maintaining a good change in 
direction for the high-speed chicanes. Michelin are taking two good tyre 
options that we have had experience with. Degredation should not be a major 
concern because the tyres do not see the high speed loading of other 
circuits, but the effects of traction can be an issue. Qualifying well is as 
important as Monaco, because overtaking here is extremely difficult, even if 
you have a 2 or 3 second car advantage. This places top priority on the race 
strategy for a good race result."

Gerhard Berger (BMW Motorsport Director)
"The Hungaroring is supposed to be the last venue this year with a circuit 
layout that does not suit our package. The outcome there is the
more downforce you have, the better your lap times are. This means Budapest 
is an extreme contrast to Hockenheim or Spa, where we will go with higher 
expectations. Nevertheless it is our task to develop a package good enough to 
score for points under every circumstance. This also includes finishing races 
regularly with both cars. An improvement in reliability is our main target 
for the season's final sprint. A decisive factor in Hungary will also be how 
much of an advantage Bridgestone's experience will be compared to our tyre 
partner Michelin's."

· The Hungarian Grand Prix is one of the youngsters on the World Championship 
calendar, as this is only the 16th event there, with the first in 1986. The 
only country to have held its first race more recently is Malaysia, with the 
first one there in 1999. However, Hungary did run one race before the start 
of the current World Championship, this being in a park on the edge of 
Budapest in 1936 and it was won by Nuvolari in an Alfa Romeo. The circuit has 
been changed several times over the years and shortened fractionally, but the 
current one is 2.470 miles (3.975 km) long and the 77 lap race will be 
190.227 miles (306.075 km) long. The race will start at 14.00 local time 
(12.00 BST) on Sunday, 19th August. The lap record was set in 1992 by Nigel 
Mansell in his WilliamsF1 with a time of 1m 18.308 (113.349mph/182.418km/h). 
The fastest time in last years race was set by winner Mika Hakkinen in his 
McLaren with a time of 1min 20.028s (111.108mph/178.812km/h).

                    Ralf Schumacher # 5             Juan Pablo Montoya # 6

Nationality         German                      Colombian
Born                30 June 1975                    20 Sept. 1975
Marital status      engaged to Cora Brinkmann   single
Lives               Salzburg (Austria)          Monte Carlo (MC), Oxford (UK)
Height              1,78 m                      1,68 m
Weight          73 kg                           72 kg
F1 debut            1997, Melbourne, Australia  2001, Melbourne, Australia
Best qualifying     1st: France                     1st : 2001 Germany
Best GP fin.        1st: 2001 San Marino, Canada, Germany   2nd: 2001 Spain, 
European
GP starts           78                              12
Points 2001         41                              15
Total points        127                             15
Fastest laps        4                               2

2001 FIA F1 Championship
                    Qualifying      Race            Qualifying      Race
Australia           5th             DNF             11th            DNF
Malaysia            3rd             5th             6th             DNF
Brazil              2nd             DNF             4th             DNF
San Marino      3rd             1st             7th             DNF
Spain               5th             DNF             12th            2nd
Austria             3rd             DNF             2nd             DNF
Monaco          5th             DNF             7th             DNF
Canada          2nd             1st             10th            DNF
European            2nd             4th             3rd             2nd
France          1st             2nd             6th             DNF
Great Britain       10th            DNF             8th             4th
Germany             2nd             1st             1st             DNF

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Sylvia Proudfoot
spur07@cs.com
403 287 3945