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Formula One: BMW F1 Imola preview

7 April 2000

6th April 2000

San Marino Grand Prix – PREVIEW

The San Marino Grand Prix signifies the start of the Formula One season 
proper. Australia and Brazil were the hors d'oeuvres – the once-a-fortnight 
grind of the European 'season' is where the foundations of a championship 
pattern are constructed. Or destroyed. The 2.65-mile (4.933 km) track is 
fast, with average lap speeds of over130mph (210 km/h) and thanks to the 
ever-present 'tifosi', its atmosphere is electric. 

For the BMW WilliamsF1 Team, the season has begun well, with the team placed 
joint-third in the Constructor Championship standings and Ralf Schumacher 
also sharing third place in the Drivers' Championship. The Brazilian Grand 
Prix saw Ralf and Jenson Button cross the finish line in 6th and 7th place 
respectively, but both drivers were promoted a place because of David 
Coulthard's disqualification from second place, making Jenson the youngest 
ever driver to score a World Championship point. Both Ralf and Jenson are 
aiming to keep up the momentum in San Marino and after a productive test 
session at Silverstone last week, the mood in the BMW WilliamsF1 Team camp is 
upbeat as Imola beckons.

Frank Williams (WilliamsF1 Team Principal)
"Both Ralf and Jenson have performed strongly in the opening two races and we 
aim to carry that momentum forward to Imola. As in Melbourne, Brazil gifted 
us with more points and given the early stage of our partnership and 
development, we are very encouraged with the way the season has begun for us."

Dr Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director)
"Our recent performances in Australia and Brazil have helped take our team 
spirit to even higher levels. We have completed more race miles than any 
other team and out of four possible finishes, we have recorded three. 
Nonetheless, our testing commitment is focused upon achieving reliability – 
an area that we are looking to strengthen on the V10 engine. After having 
analysed Jenson's Melbourne car, we have discovered a link between his engine 
failure and the one that we experienced during Free Practice in Sao Paulo. 
Over the past ten days, we have put great effort into pinpointing this 
problem and we hope to avoid a repeat in San Marino."

Ralf Schumacher
"After our strong performances in Melbourne and Sao Paulo, I am looking 
forward to Imola. I must say that I am really enjoying driving the FW22, 
especially in Melbourne. Last week, we had two test days at Silverstone in an 
effort to prepare for Imola and the British Grand Prix. Imola is 
characterised by long straights and slow corners, which means the brakes are 
punished in a very hard way. Apart form the brakes, acceleration especially 
out of Tosa, Acque Minerali and Traguardo is really important. A good place 
for overtaking is Tosa. Last year I was 9th in qualifying, but retired on the 
28th lap while in 4th place because of a fire in the airbox. This year I hope 
to see the chequered flag with the BMW WilliamsF1 Team."

Jenson Button
"The BMW WilliamsF1 Team has got off to a very good start. Both cars ran 
strongly at Interlagos and given how demanding that circuit is, our 
performance is testament to the team's hard work and experience. Scoring my 
first ever point is great, but the most satisfying part was the fact that I 
finished the race. Like any driver, I'd like to earn my points through 
driving and not through other people's misfortune. After a good test at 
Silverstone last week, we are now firmly focused upon the job at hand in 
Imola. Again, this is another track that is unfamiliar to me, but one that I 
am really looking forward to. Balance and grip are important on the San 
Marino circuit and given the passionate 'tifosi' it's an experience that I am 
relishing."

· The 62-lap San Marino Grand Prix gets underway at 12:00 GMT on Sunday 9th 
April. A total race distance of 189.47 miles (305.609 km) will be covered at 
the circuit where Heinz-Harald Frentzen holds the lap record of 1m30.585s in 
a WilliamsF1 FW19.
· In 1999, McLaren-Mercedes' Mika Häkkinen was in a commanding lead ahead of 
Michael Schumacher, but an unforced error from Mika resulted in Schumacher 
winning for Ferrari, - the first time the Prancing Horse had won at Imola for 
17 years. David Coulthard finished the race in second place for 
McLaren-Mercedes and Rubens Barrichello grabbed third spot for Stewart-Ford.

                Ralf Schumacher – car no. 9         Jenson Button – car no. 10
Nationality     German                              British
Born            30 June 1975 – Hürth, (Germany) 19 January 1980,Frome (UK)
Marital status  single                              single
Lives           Monte Carlo                         Bicester, Oxfordshire (UK)
Height          1,78 m                              1,82 m
Weight          73 kg                               74 kg
F1 debut        1997, Melbourne, Australia          2000, Melbourne, Australia
Best qualifying 3rd : 1997 France (Magny-Cours) -
Best GP finish  2nd: 1998 Belgium, 1999 Italy       -
GP starts       51                                  2
Points          68                                  1
Fastest laps    1                                   0

2000 FIA F1 Championship

        Qualifying  Race            Qualifying  Race
Australia   11th        3rd             21st        DNF
Brazil      11th        5th         9th         6th