Formula One Debut for Jaguar in Australia
3 March 2000
Formula One Debut for Jaguar in Australia
MAHWAH, N.J., March 3 -- Jaguar makes its grand prix debut in
Melbourne, Australia on Sunday 12th March 2000. Drivers Eddie Irvine and
Johnny Herbert will be challenging for honours in the opening round of the FIA
Formula One World Championship in Jaguar Racing's new car for the new
season -- the Jaguar R1.
"Our debut in Formula One clearly signals Jaguar's direction for the
future," said Jaguar's Chairman Dr. Wolfgang Reitzle. "There is an excitement
and passion about Formula One racing which closely matches the emotional
appeal of Jaguar.
"At the heart of our plans is a renewed commitment to that unique blend of
emotion and technology which makes Jaguar one of the most evocative automotive
marques in the world. We call it emotional engineering and the F-Type concept
car which we unveiled in Detroit in January perfectly illustrates our
philosophy for the future.
"We are a new team. One of the newest teams in Formula One. We have a lot
to learn. The team though, is highly motivated and determined to succeed and
we are, of course, able to build on the very firm foundations established by
Jackie Stewart.
"Our ultimate objective is the ultimate prize in motorsport -- the FIA
Formula One World Championship."
Jackie Stewart, who earlier this year announced that he was retiring as
Chairman of Jaguar Racing but would remain closely involved with the team as a
member of the Board, said: "The birth of a new Formula One team is always an
emotional event and I am proud to be associated, once again, with a marque I
drove in the early stages of my career and a marque which has such a
distinguished and successful racing heritage. Jaguar has an ambitious and
progressive management team and over the past few months it has been a great
pleasure to work with them as we prepared for the new season. I share
Jaguar's great sense of heritage. I also admire their vision for the future
and, as a member of the Board of Directors of Jaguar Racing, I am delighted to
be involved in helping the team achieve its objectives.
"The Jaguar R1 is a car with great potential and in Eddie Irvine and
Johnny Herbert we have two outstanding drivers who have the skill, talent and
experience to help us realise that potential. Their feedback from pre-season
testing has been very positive. Cosworth have worked with us to make
significant improvements to the engine. Last year's engine was generally
recognised as being one of the best -- and certainly one of the most powerful,
lightest and compact -- engines in the Championship. We have an even better
engine for this year. "I am looking forward with great anticipation to the
new season."
Jackie Stewart said that Jaguar Racing would continue to have the
enthusiastic support of major partners HSBC, MCI Worldcom, Lear and Hewlett
Packard. For the new season they are joined by German-based international
brewing giant Becks Beer and the global delivery organisation DHL.
The team's long-standing technology partners are continuing with Jaguar
Racing -- Bridgestone, Visteon, Unigraphics Solutions and Texaco.
"All of us at Jaguar Racing are committed to ensuring that our partners
share in the massive global exposure generated by Formula One," he added.
The new Chairman of Jaguar Racing and Ford Motor Company Vice President
and Chief Technical Officer Neil Ressler said "In my capacity as Chairman of
Jaguar Racing and Chief Technical Officer of Ford Motor Company I will be
ensuring that Jaguar Racing has access to the full range of Ford Motor
Company's technological resources -- including Cosworth and Pi.
"I have always advocated the closest possible links between the racing
team and Jaguar's engineering team in Coventry and Jaguar engineers and
designers are already contributing to the racing programme. I also believe
that Jaguar's production car engineers can learn a great deal from the racing
team in Milton Keynes. The need to solve problems quickly breeds a nimble and
innovative culture which we will be able to transfer to the road car
development programmes. I regard technology and process transfer as one of
the major advantages for Jaguar and I intend to ensure that we use it for the
benefit of our customers," said Mr. Ressler.
Jonathan Browning, Jaguar's Managing Director said: "Jaguar is expanding
rapidly. We have just reported record sales for last year. In Europe we grew
faster than any other car manufacturer, and we have even more ambitious plans
for the future. Formula One, with its massive global reach, will clearly
promote a wider recognition of the Jaguar marque. Eighty percent of the cars
Jaguar builds are exported. The international dimension of Formula One is a
major attraction.
"We know from our previous involvement in motorsport that a successful
racing programme has major commercial benefits. For example, it will give us
that vital connection with the performance orientated buyers -- a key factor
as we introduce new performance-orientated cars in the future".
Jonathan Browning also pointed out that Jaguar employees were amongst the
most enthusiastic supporters of Jaguar's new racing team. "Racing is part of
the Jaguar culture and there is already tremendous excitement and interest in
our plants in the Midlands and on Merseyside. Many of our employees will be
tuned into their television set for the Melbourne race," he said.
Jaguar Racing's Chief Operating Officer Paul Stewart described the Jaguar
R1 as a new and logical development of last season's car. "Every single
element of last year's car was analysed and improved and Technical Director
Gary Anderson and his team will continue to work with the drivers to make
further improvements before the first race in Australia. I'm very confident
that we have a car which is capable of winning races this season," he said.