By Huw Alban
July 18 2002

At the time of writing this preview it isn’t even clear as to whether the OrangeArrows team are going to be competing at Magny-Cours. The team had a strong show at Silverstone, helped by the superior Bridgestone intermediate tyres. Showers are forecast this weekend...

The 2001 race started with the team qualifying in their now familiar back of the grid spots of 18th and 19th. The cars’ form improved slightly during the warm-up, with Enrique Bernoldi shining through with 12th fastest and Jos Verstappen only four tenths slower in 15th.

The Dutchman made a scorching start to improve to 14th by the end of the first lap. However, Enrique Bernoldi’s race only lasted 18 laps, with the Brazilian pulling onto the grass due to a technical problem. Verstappen, meanwhile, was running 12th until lap 26 when he made his first stop of the race.

Jos finished the French Grand Prix 2001 in a ‘lucky’ 13th, having gained places mainly due to other teams’ technical retirements and problems.

Assuming Arrows do compete this weekend, Autosport magazine is putting money on Heinz-Harald Frentzen to pull a result. The motorsport publication believes that the German could have made it onto the podium at Silverstone and, with rain showers forecast this weekend in France, they also believe that he’ll be very strong once again. We are reminded that Frentzen won the French Grand Prix for Jordan under wet conditions...

For now, though, this site is turning it’s eyes to the first practice session tomorrow (Friday) hoping that the Arrows team make it out onto the circuit. Check back here tomorrow to AllAboutArrows.co.uk for a full report.