FERRARI'S manager, Jean Todt, has promised that Eddie Irvine will have the same specification car as Schumacher used to win at Spa and Monza for the penultimate round of the 1996 World championship at Estoril, Portugal, this weekend.
Eddie has not raced with the new seven-speed gearbox that Michael has been using," the ex Peugeot manager said.
Irvine has had 100 laps in the cars around Ferarri's private test track at Fiorano recently, breaking the lap record on his way. Irvine went just under a tenth of a second quicker than Schumacher's previous record around the Maranello track.
Some of the recent threats to Irvine's drive at Ferrari have receded with the confirmation that the attempt to move Hakkinen to Ferrari have failed. While Irvine has a contract with the Italian operation for next year there is never a shortage of rivals lusting after the seat and some remain in the winds.
Irvine is hoping for a strong result this weekend after the unfortunate error at Monza which robbed him of a podium place. Irvine hasn't finished any of last nine races and his patience is wearing thin. He desperately wants to finish on Sunday and a car as reliable as Schumacher's would he a big help in making that happen.
