MEDIA 

Schumacher Jr tipped as McLaren tester

JULY 8, 1996
RALF  SCHUMACHER,  brother of double  World Champion Michael, is tipped to become McLaren's 

 
new test  driver  when the current incumbent Jan Magnussen  leaves the team to become one of the drivers of the new Stewart Grand Prix operation.
Schumacher  Jr  will  be  a  popular  choice  with McLaren's engine supplier Mercedes-Benz, which has been keen on  having  a German  driver in the team.
Schumacher has been looking for an F1 test drive for 1997 for some months while racing in Formula Nippon - the  Japanese  version of  Formula 3000. He is currently leading the championship.
Ralf  , who  is  managed  by  his  brother's mentor Willy  Weber,  has  been  racing  since  1993.  He finished   runner - up  in  the  German  Formula  3 series to  Sauber test driver Norberto Fontana in 1995,  and  the  pair  are  continuing  their rivalry this year in Japan - where both have won races in Formula Nippon.