10/10/2006
NEWS STORY
With just one round of the 2006 season remaining, and a testing ban until December - though teams are calling for Bridgestone to organise a test in late November, a number of the teams are in action again this week, before heading off to Brazil.
Ferrari will join Toyota, Williams, McLaren and BMW at Jerez, while Renault will join Spyker at Silverstone - running on the South Circuit - on Wednesday and Thursday.
Honda, which has used up its 36-day test allowance, will not test, besides which it is assured of fourth position in the Constructors' Championship.
Renault was not originally scheduled to test, however, with a 9-point advantage in the Constructors' Championship, and a mathematical chance of Michael Schumacher snatching back the drivers' crown, the French team hastily organised this week's run.
Even though he has conceded the title to Fernando Alonso, and is due to retire from F1 in thirteen days, Michael Schumacher will be action at Jerez this week.
McLaren is running Lewis Hamilton at Jerez, his second consecutive test for the Woking team, however, the team is playing down talk of the Englishman being in a head-to-head with Pedro de la Rosa for the Interlagos drive.
Other than the fight between Ferrari and Renault, Toyota is involved in a battle with BMW for fifth spot in the championship, while WilliamsF1, in what team boss Frank Williams has admitted is its most disappointing season, will still be hoping to overhaul Red Bull for seventh.