Yesterday Jos Verstappen signed a one year ...

Published on 29 November 1996 by Verstappen Info Page

Yesterday Jos Verstappen signed a one year contract with Tyrrell. Jos is very pleased with his choice for Tyrrell: "It is a very solid team with a long history. The team has an experienced staff and has a bright future ahead. It is an ideal learning place for young drivers. More than once drivers have reached the absolute top through the team of Ken Tyrrell."

Up until the very last minute negotiations have taken place with the teams of Jordan and Sauber but Jos thought it too risky to wait any longer because there were all kinds of things going on with the other teams.

Tyrrell is supported by "Nakajima Planning" from Satoru Nakajima. At the end of last month a three year was closed between Nakajima and Tyrrell. Satoru, who drove for Tyrrell in 1990 and 1991, has become sporting director of the team. Also joining the team as a testdriver at the end of last month was Japanese talent Toranosuke Takagi. Besides his job as testdriver for Tyrrell Toranosuke also drives for Nakajima San's Formule Nippon team (Formule 3000 in Japan). The team is also sponsored by PIAA, a Japanese automotive manufacturer. See our item of October, 30 for more information.

The construction of the Tyrrell Ford 025 Challenger is on schedule and the team will start testing in januari on four different circuits in England, Spain and Portugal. The car will be equipped with the Ford ED Cosworth V8 customer engine. This engine is a lot more powerful than the one used last season. The experienced tuner Cosworth takes care of further development and Tyrrell is the absolute number 1 team for Ford next year. So, several developments are going on with the engine and the engine has shown a great reliability last year.

Jos and Ken Tyrrell have a good relationship. Ken even offered Jos a test drive in 1993. Then there is Harvey Postlethwaite, the designer of the Tyrrell, who stand for a solid design through his very long experience and inventor of several innovative constructions in F1. Jos is looking forward to working together with Mika Salo, the Finnish racing-talent: "Mika and I are often seen as drivers of the future so what can be better than working on the future with him in one team."

We wish Jos al the best for 1997 and we hope that it will be another succesful and talked about year.