By Honda Racing F1
July 13 2006

The first of an intensive three races in four weeks sees the Formula One teams return to Europe following the two races in North America. The French Grand Prix, Round eleven of the 2006 FIA Formula One World Championship, gets underway at the Circuit de Nevers in Magny-Cours this weekend.

Gil de Ferran
Sporting Director
Honda Racing F1

"We return to Europe encouraged by our performance in the United States Grand Prix and optimistic that we can carry that through into the French Grand Prix this weekend.

"Magny-Cours represents quite a different challenge to the last two circuits since it is very smooth and contains a mixture of high and slow speed turns, however it is similarly hard on rear tyres.

"Weather-wise, in the past we have seen very hot conditions and we expect to encounter more of the same next weekend, which our car and set-up seem to cope quite well with.

"We are hopeful that the developments tested in Jerez this week will bring us some improvement and we can again be in a position to score some good points, this time with both drivers."