16.03.2004 BARRON CONNOR RACING'S FERRARI 575 GTC RACERS TAKE TO THE TRACK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ANGER AT SEBRING

The Barron Connor Racing team arrived in Sebring last Friday, where it collected the cars to prepare them for the Test Days that have started today at 9.40 am Florida time. Both cars ran during this first 90 minute session. It was a hot, dry, but cloudy morning.

Thomas Biagi was the first to take out car number 25, while Mike Hezemans drove number 26, which did not have a rear wing fitted yet, due to some of the team's parts that were being held by customs in Miami will only arrive in the afternoon.

Both cars lapped throughout the session which was used by the team to shake down the new cars.

Thomas Biagi, Danny Sullivan and John Bosch all drove car number 25, although the latter came in after one lap, due to a minor problem with the battery at the end of the session.

"It was good to have both cars out on the track in the very first session", John Bosch said. "It was a long and challenging road that led us here and obviously we are happy to be here. The ambiance in the team is great and everybody is working very hard. We know this will be a week in which we must learn as much as we can, so we are happy that we have both cars running. For us this is essential, for we aim to do as much mileage as possible rather than looking for performance."

Mike Hezemans and Ange Barde shared car number 26, with Jean Denis Deletraz joining them later today. "Driving without the rearwing was quite an adventure! But it was good to drive anyway, just to check if mechanically and electronically everything was working OK. There is not much to tell yet of course, but the gearbox was lovely and the engine feels good and the team is just so professional, that I very much enjoy being here."