2002 August News     Monday August 26th, 2002 A real challenge and a real pleasure August has gifted Ferrari’s Formula 1 drivers a month without testing   since   their  fabulous  weekend in Hungary. Michael Schumacher  made the most of it, enjoying a few days rest at home  with  his  family.  “Something  like this always does you good,”  said  a  smiling  Michael. It  was a particular treat for his  children,  as  the  five  times  world  champion spent most of  the  time  with  them. But it would be out of character for Michael  not  to  indulge  in  some  sort  of activity to liven up the break.  “I  have  done a lot of sport, including cycling and I  also  went  for a motorbike ride,” he recounted. “Then, last weekend,  I went to Bottrop to watch my wife take part in an equestrian  event.  It  was  really fantastic   and  both  of  us had  a  great  time.”  As  is common  knowledge,  Corinna is an accomplished  “Western  Style”  rider.  Apart  from  that  and one  day  spent  filming  a  commercial at  Fiorano,  the world champion  took  it  easy  since  the  Grand  Prix  at  Budapest, where    Scuderia   Ferrari    took   its   fourth    consecutive Constructors’   Championship. Gradually though, Michael’s  thoughts have turned to the next race  and  inevitably  the  memories,  most  of them good ones linked  to  Spa - Francorchamps,  the  circuit  which hosts the next grand prix and where Michael made his Formula 1 debut. “Obviously,I have nothing but fond memories of Spa. So much has happened there in my career as a driver, that I love going back  there  every  year.  If I think of my debut, I remember that the Jordan team  thought I knew the track, which wasn’t the case. So I took a  bike to do a couple of laps of the track and  right  there  and then I realised it was a fantastic place. Spa - Francorchamps  is  quite  simply  one   of  the   ultimate “old-style” circuits and sadly, there aren’t many  of them left. It is  the  sort  of  track  where  it  is  difficult  to  describe what  it  is  like to drive. Tackling corners like Eau Rouge for example,  not  to  mention  the countryside where the track is situated  is  simply  wonderful.  I  think nearly all the drivers like  it.  The  circuit  is  really  extreme  and  is  my   outright favourite. Making a debut on  a track  like  this  is  something special and  racing  there  is  a  real challenge but also a real pleasure.” Apart from his debut, Michael also celebrated his first F1 win here on 30th August 1992. “The best thing about that win was that  none  of the top drivers at the time had retired from the race,”  recalled  Michael.  Then  there  was  the  famous 1995 race. Michael  started  from 16th on the grid, but beat Damon Hill to win, even if  the  weather  had  given  him  a  generous helping  hand.  “It  was  an incredible race,” says the Ferrari man, shaking his head. Michael  won  again the following year, which  was  enormously  important  at  the  time. “We had just gone through a very bad patch,  which  had  seen us retire all the time and Ferrari morale  was  very  low.  If  I had to pick one  really  critical  moment  during  my  time  with  Ferrari, I reckon  that  would  be  it. The win restored our faith.” Those were different times and today, Ferrari is the dominant force  in  Formula 1  and  Michael can eagerly look forward to this coming race weekend. “Actually,  the best thing about our car is that it works well at all circuits.