2003 Spanish GP

The Circuit de Catalunya, just outside Barcelona, is very well known to drivers and teams as a lot of winter testing is carried out here. Generally, if a car is fast on this track, it will be quick on many of the other circuits.

Circuit de Catalunya has a good mixture of fast and slow corners with undulating bumps, so it can produce a tough race. The long corners cause high tyre wear and understeer, and overtaking is difficult here so a good qualifying and pit stop strategy is crucial. The start-finish straight is one of the longest of all the F1 circuits, at close to one mile and drivers can top 190mph before braking into the first corner.

The Circuit de Catalunya has never attracted record crowds for the Grand Prix, indeed Spaniards have always preferred their motorsport on two wheels, with champions in several motor cycle disciplines. Only last weekend, Spain’s Sete Giberneau won the MotoGP event in South Africa.

Jordan Ford’s preparations for the 2003 Spanish Grand Prix included the team’s first test session since the beginning of the season, with Ralph Firman in action at Silverstone on 23 April, joined by Fisichella the following day.

A mechanically trouble-free day for Jordan Ford in Barcelona yielded little reward as the pace of the EJ13s in this morning’s testing eluded both drivers in qualifying. The team is working to find the best direction to improve the car’s balance for the rest of the weekend.

Eddie Jordan has moved quickly to dispell inaccurate press speculation suggesting that Ralph Firman's position in the team may be under threat. Reports that Firman had disappointed the team after failing to finish three of the four races this season 'defied belief' given that on every occasion it was a technical problem that ended his race.

Michael Schumacher headed first qualifying in his new Ferrari with Jarno Trulli's Renault second quickest and Rubens Barrichello third. There were impressive times from Christiano da Matta, fourth for Toyota, and Jensen Button who set the fifth fastest time for BAR.

Fernando Alonso will have further increased his popularity in Spain by setting the fastest time in practice ths morning as he prepared to qualify for tomorrow's Grand Prix in Barcelona. His Renault was six tenths of a second quicker than the Ferrari of Rubens Barrichello while team mate Jarno Trulli was third, suggesting that Renault may be set to spring a susprise this afternoon.

Michael Schumacher used the final lap of qualifying in Barcelona to put his new Ferrari F2003-GA on pole position by some three tenths of a second from team mate Rubens Barrichello. Any thought that the new car would not be up to the job was dashed by the World Champions perfect performance, the Ferraris pushing the impressing Renaults of Fernando Alonso and Jarno Trulli back onto the second row of the grid.

Ralph Firman scored his first Formula One World Championship point when he claimed 8th place in today's Spanish Grand Prix, the race victory going to Michael Schumacher's Ferrari in spite of a race long challenge from local hero Fernando Alonso. The 27 year old Jordan Ford driver was delighted with the result, coming at the end of a tough race during which he had to battle for position throughout.