The DHL Jordan Honda team returns to the venue of one of their three Grand Prix victories, handed to them after a brilliant drive by Heinz- Harald Frentzen in the 1999 French Grand Prix. Unbeknownst to the driver or the team at the time, the German was competing in the wet/dry event with a fractured kneecap after a shunt in the Canadian GP two weeks earlier, making the achievement all the more sensational.

However, since then fortunes haven't been what they had hoped and despite a slow start to the 2002 season, they are hoping for better things to come in the second half of the season. The Magny-Cours circuit incorporates several decent fast corners and although the fast chicanes are quite demanding for both car and driver there are very few overtaking opportunities making Saturday's qualifying session all the more important. There is one place the drivers can take advantage of at the end of the main straight at the hairpin, but unfortunately it follows a very fast corner, so even that is a difficult spot to get past anyone.

In last years event at Magny-Cours, Giancarlo Fisichella crossed the line in eleventh place, the then Benetton driver having a brush with the Arrows of Jos Verstappen and losing several positions before his race had even started. So far this season, the Italian driver has secured three fifth place finishes and after finishing just outside the points in seventh place at Silverstone a week ago, is hoping for a top ten qualifying position to help him back into a possible top six finish.

"Magny-Cours is a very modern circuit with exceptional safety standards," he said. "After our strong seventh place finish in Silverstone, the team has made great efforts to make the car even more competitive. I am confident about the performance of the car and the tyres at this race."

"Normally conditions are very hot, although there have been occasions when it has poured with rain, which is what happened when Jordan won in 1999. Qualifying is the key, you have to be up the front of the grid and then make the most of it with the right race strategy," said Gary Anderson, Director of Race and Test Engineering. "It is not a long pit stop circuit so it's possible to stop more often without losing much time. I expect the temperature will be very hot this year and at this circuit the temperature affects the surface very strangely so grip levels drop off dramatically. We are hoping for a good solid top-ten qualifying for both cars because from there we have the chance to do something.

"It will be Takuma Sato's first ever appearance at the French track and the young rookie driver is hoping to finally secure his first point of the season on the famous Magny-Cours circuit. It has been a tough introduction to Formula one for Taku but after a brief look a the upcoming venue together with recent developments from engine supplier Honda recently, he is feeling in a positive frame of mind and will head into the weekend full of gusto!

"I have never raced at Magny-Cours, although I have driven here when I visited during the winter, with my engineer, to have a look at the circuit," the Japanese rookie explained. "We had the track to ourselves with a little Formula school car, admittedly in much cooler conditions than I'm expecting at the weekend. The EJ12 is looking good and we are hoping to have further improvements from Honda soon so I feel positive."

"It's always nice to return to a circuit where you have been successful, however our focus is very much on this season," added Eddie Jordan. "We narrowly missed scoring points at Silverstone and it's important for us to get back to top-six finishes. We know we can do it, so we just have to deliver the best package for the circumstances and conditions on the day."