/ / Arquivo 2003

Japan

Bridgestone enjoys long weekend in Suzuka

(October 20th, 2003) The Japanese Grand Prix was always going to be a busy weekend for Bridgestone, with two titles up for grabs in their home race. The climax of what has been a thrilling World Championship season did not disappoint.

Bridgestone celebrate title glory

(October 17th, 2003) Bridgestone enjoyed the taste of champagne at Suzuka after playing their part in retaining the double world championships with Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro's Michael Schumacher clinching his sixth drivers' title and the Italian team securing an unprecedented fifth successive Constructors' Championship.

Firman back on familiar ground

(October 17th, 2003) Ralph Firman took his long-running association with Bridgestone to “home ground” last weekend when he returned to the Suzuka circuit, the scene of one of his greatest achievements, for the Japanese Grand Prix. Briton Firman has driven on Bridgestone tyres in every year of his motorsport career and continued the relationship in Formula One with Jordan Ford after clinching the Formula Nippon championship at Suzuka last year.

Bridgestone and Ferrari on top of the world with double championship titles

(October 12th, 2003) Michael Schumacher finally clinched his sixth FIA Formula One World Championship Drivers' title today at the Suzuka circuit. And one of his first stops in the paddock after the race this afternoon was to the Bridgestone tyre fitting area where he was raised aloft on the shoulders of the jubilant crew of tyre fitters and engineers in a frenzy of celebration. However, it was Schumacher's team mate and pole man Rubens Barrichello who proved himself the man of the day, clinching a magnificent victory at the season finale.

Race results...

Rubens and Bridgestone bag final pole of season

(October 11th, 2003) Bridgestone and Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro's Rubens Barrichello have snatched the final pole position of the 2003 FIA Formula One Championship season, highlighting the strength of their championship title challenge tomorrow. Whilst Michael Schumacher, who managed seventh on the grid in his Ferrari due to changing weather conditions, may have hoped for a better start to his drivers' championship showdown tomorrow, the reigning champion and current points leader needs only one point to secure his sixth world championship title.

Strong start for Bridgestone

(October 10th, 2003) Bridgestone's teams had a productive start to their final race weekend of the season with today's sunny and dry conditions enabling them to push on with their tyre evaluation runs despite a relatively “green” track early on in the day. First qualifying resulted in reigning World Champion Michael Schumacher posting the third fastest time of the session, setting him up for a good position in the running order for tomorrow's final qualifying. Fellow Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro driver Rubens Barrichello was seventh fastest whilst Sauber Petronas' Nick Heidfeld and Heinz Harald Frentzen, who will be looking to repeat their points scoring weekend in Indianapolis last time out, were also looking competitive in tenth and twelfth places. The pair were split by B.A.R Honda's Takuma Sato who impressed in his first qualifying session for the team having got a last minute call up to stand in for Jacques Villeneuve.

Barrichello targeting Suzuka success

(October 8th, 2003) Rubens Barrichello may be out of contention for the drivers' World Championship but he heads into Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix with a major role to play as Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro and Bridgestone look for another double title success. Barrichello's team-mate Michael Schumacher is one point away from a fourth successive drivers' title, with Ferrari needing 15 points to be sure of a fifth straight success in the Constructors' Championship.

Bridgestone taking nothing for granted in Suzuka

(October 7th, 2003) Bridgestone will take nothing for granted despite heading into their home race in Sunday's season-ending Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka with double World Championship glory in their sights. Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro driver Michael Schumacher's victory in the previous race in the United States has left him one point away from a fourth successive world title, and with it a record-breaking sixth Formula One drivers' crown.

Bridgestone Braced for Season Showdown

(October 3rd, 2003) Bridgestone Motorsport will have the support of hundreds of Bridgestone employees next week as the Formula One circus gathers in Suzuka for the final round of the FIA Formula One World Championship. After the highs and lows of an extremely competitive and emotional year, Bridgestone's tyre engineers have pulled out all the stops to provide its teams with the best tyres it can. Reigning champions Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro and Michael Schumacher are on the verge of defending their constructors' and drivers' titles whilst fellow Bridgestone supplied teams Sauber Petronas and Lucky Strike B.A.R Honda will both be battling for that coveted fifth place championship position. Pride and reputations are at stake next weekend and all that remains is for the players to take their places on stage for the final time this year.

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