JULY 22, 1996
A mysterious car at Snetterton
REPORTS of a mysterious white F1 car testing at Snetterton last week have set tongues wagging in Grand Prix racing.
One rumor doing the rounds was that Jordan was at Snetterton doing secret testing work for Michelin. Those who have visited Snetterton will know that there is nothing secret that can be done there as there is an active industrial estate close to the track. The best way to give away a secret in motor racing is to test anywhere in England. In addition, Jordan has also recently signed a contract with Goodyear - so is unlikely to be playing games with Michelin.
The French tire company has been looking at F1 in the last year and had even been linked to secret tests with McLaren. The Woking team has now agreed a new long-term deal with Goodyear, which suggests that Michelin is not ready to enter F1 and is waiting to see how Bridgestone does against Goodyear before it joins the fray.
Other suggestions about the Snetterton test are that a private collector was playing with toys; that the Lola F1 car was running again (Lola being located close to Snetterton).
Whatever the case, somebody at Snetterton saw something which they took to be a Formula 1 car...