Eddie Irvine was the fastest driver around smooth Magny Cours yesterday until 90 seconds from the end of practice when championship leader Mika Hakkinen went less than a tenth of a second quicker than the Irish Ferrari star's best lap.
Both Jordans were in contention all afternoon, Ralf Schumacher ending the day sixth quickest, ahead of both Benettons and Damon Hill in ninth place.
Situated in the agricultural heartland of France close to the banks of the Loire, Magny Cours is one of Irvine's favourite tracks: "I've always enjoyed driving here. The car really was good here in testing - it's smooth so the cars attitude is flat most of the time and the aerodynamics are consistent."
He was third last year and with his record this year of 50 per cent podium finishes he is optimistic about tomorrow's race: "I gotta be on the second," he enthused. Irvine ran hard tyres during yesterday's practice and mid way through he punched in a blinding lap to go half a second clear of the field - and be first to dip into the 1.16s
"It just wasn't warm enough for the softer tyre. I got a clear road and managed one of those laps where every corner was right," he said after stepping from his Ferrari F300.
Irvine was able to take the very fast Grande Courbe corner flat in sixth: "Goodyear have made a huge step forward. We seem to be right with the McLarens and that is half through the new tyres and half through the work at Maranello with new front wings and other bits and bobs".
In the dying moments of the second one hour session, Hakkinen's Bridgestone shod McLaren stopped the clocks at 1.16.515 against the Irishman's best of 1.16.597s.
Irvine is urging caution, however: "Friday is Friday. Michael was the only driver to use just one set of tyres so he will be higher up tomorrow It's hard to know if McLaren have more up their sleeve."
Ralf Schumacher will struggle to match his third place in qualifying last year, but sixth yesterday was a fine effort: "The car feels pretty good but I think we have reached our limit. The tyre choice tomorrow will be difficult because the weather is so unpredictable".
The pressure will be on Ralf Schumacher for a good first race lap. Damon Hill has a brilliant record at Magny Cours. In his four years with Williams he started on pole and finished second for the first three years and in 1996 won the race from second place on the grid and went on to be World Champion. Qualifying today will be vital as he explained: "There are not many places to overtake here so we must qualify well into the top 10. We will race the new B spec Mugen Honda for the first time and Goodyear have made a big step forward with the tyres. We had a very good test here so we should have a good race."
Eddie Jordan gave his riding instruction to the drivers: "I want two cars in the points." Jordan have no points this year but fifth place team Stewart have just five points to their credit and are within reach while Williams are 11 points further ahead.
