MALCOLM OASTLER RETIRES FROM JAQuAR MOTORSPORT
After a successful twenty years in motorsport, Jaguar Racing’s Chief Engineer Malcolm Oastler has announced his retirement from the sport to concentrate on setting up a rural venture with his family in his native Australia. Malcolm joined Jaguar Racing in 2002 as a consultant on the 2003 racing car, Jaguar R4, and has since played a critical role in the development and rollout of this year’s challenger, Jaguar R5. Malcolm will work his notice period and remains with Jaguar Racing until mid June.
“I’ve had a fantastic 20 year stint playing racing cars, but I don’t think it’s something you should do forever. As much as I love the technical aspects and the people, the lure of the southern sun and the beach have won the day.” said Malcolm. “I owe a huge debt of gratitude to everyone I have had the pleasure of working with throughout my career. In particular, I want to express my sincere appreciation to everyone at Jaguar Racing. This was far from an easy decision for me. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with Jaguar in helping to make the team competitive. My key challenge over the past year has been to ensure we produce a competitive racing car and in the Jaguar R5, I believe we have achieved that result. A comprehensive development programme over the course of this season will ensure that remains the case,” said Malcolm.
Jaguar Racing’s Managing Director, David Pitchforth, commented: “We are sad to see Malcolm leave given his valuable input to our programme and wish him the very best for the future. He has contributed an enormous amount to motorsport over a twenty year period with his designs having graced everything from Formula Ford to F3000, Indycar and Formula One, added Pitchforth. “Since joining Jaguar Racing in 2002, we have benefited enormously from Malcolm’s input into the R4 upgrade programme and the design and development of our 2004 challenger, Jaguar R5. We had agreed from the onset with Malcolm that his tenure with Jaguar Racing would be relatively short-term and focused upon what were critical short-term objectives aimed at ensuring the competitiveness of the Jaguar R4 and R5,” continued Pitchforth. “Malcolm’s role as Chief Engineer allowed him great autonomy and freedom between various departments and it is a role that worked very well indeed for both parties. His engineering experience and acumen have manifested themselves clearly in this year’s racing car. I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of everyone at Jaguar Racing in wishing Malcolm all the very best of luck for the future” concluded Pitchforth.
See attached biography for full career details.
ENDS
Hailing from Sydney, Australia,
Malcolm has been involved in the design of successful racing
cars since the mid-80s. Interested in cars from an early age,
Malcolm raced in Australian Formula Ford in 1983 and 1984,
finishing second in the National Championship in his rookie
year.
Malcolm received a degree in
Mechanical Engineering from Sydney University prior to settling
in England in 1985. Initially, he worked as a mechanic in
Formula Ford 1600 and Formula Ford 2000 and for a short time he
also drove in the 2000 category.
Soon after retiring from
competition, Malcolm turned to design and in1986 joined Reynard
to design the Formula Ford 1600 and 2000 chassis. In 1988 he
collaborated with Adrian Reynard on the first Formula 3000
chassis and his designs subsequently won five International
titles.
With the Champ Car concept becoming a reality in 1994,
Malcolm led the design team from the start. His 95I chassis won
eight races, including the Indy 500 and started from pole
position no less than thirteen
times.
Throughout 1996, 1997 and 1998 CART cars designed by
Malcolm and the Reynard design team continued to add further
successes, with 4 Championships and over 50 race wins in 5
years. While still with Reynard, Malcolm was Technical Director
at BAR, the team achieving 5th and 6th in
the Championship and two podium finishes in 2000 and 2001.
Having started with Jaguar Racing as
a consultant on the design of the R4, Malcolm was appointed
Chief Engineer in 2003.
Career
history:
2002 Jaguar
Racing
Joined the team as a
consultant in the design of the R4. Officially appointed as
Chief Engineer in January
2003.
1999 British American
Racing
The team achieved 5th and
6th places in the Championship in 2000 and
2001
1998 British American
Racing
Malcolm joined initially
as Chief Designer, before moving to the role of Technical
Director in 1999.
1994
Reynard
When the Indy Car concept became a reality in 1994,
Malcolm led the design team. His cars won the CART Championship
consecutively from 1995 to 1998, and the Indy 500 in 1995 and
1996.
1988 Reynard
Collaborated with Adrian Reynard
on the first Reynard Formula 3000 chassis, with his designs
winning five International titles in as many
seasons.
1986
Reynard
Designed the Formula Ford 1600 and Formula Ford 2000
chassis.
1985 – 1986
Mechanic in Formula Ford 1600 and Formula Ford 2000.
Also drove in the FF2000
series.