Formula One: Stewart Ford Racing News, Japanese Grand Prix Preview
28 October 1999
The Japanese Grand Prix marks the last race that the team will compete as Stewart-Ford. From the 2000 FIA Formula One World Championship season the team will race as Jaguar Racing. Stewart-Ford enters the Japanese Grand Prix in fourth place in the Constructors' Championship with a three-point advantage over the fifth-placed Williams team.RUBENS BARRICHELLO Car No.16 (SF3-04)
This is your farewell race for Stewart-Ford. Sum up your feelings.
'It's going to be very emotional when I step out of the car for the last time on Sunday. I am really keen to get a good result for the team in Suzuka. I desperately wanted to do well in Malaysia and I'm just as determined to go out on a high in Japan. My goal was to leave at the end of the season having helped the Stewart-Ford team to the top four in the championship. I'll be doing my utmost to make our fourth place secure this weekend. That will be my way of repaying everyone in the Stewart-Ford team for their terrific support during my time with them.'
Suzuka is one of your favourite circuits. Why?
'It's a real drivers' track - a mixture of slow and high speed corners, long straights and off course the Crossover which is unique. Because of the undulations of the layout you have to keep very busy in the cockpit. It's not a circuit which offers much respite for a driver but that adds to the challenge. Set-up is crucial - the car has to be well balanced to respond to the special demands of the circuit.'
JOHNNY HERBERT Car No.17 (SF3-05)
Can you maintain your good end-of-season form at Suzuka?
'In lots of ways Suzuka is similar to the Malaysian circuit, a challenging track with a variety of turns. We've proven that the car can adapt quite well to a flowing type of track layout so we should be able to qualify well again. My aim is to get close to the McLarens again. The fact that both cars are going well has strengthened our hand.'
Are you disappointed not to have held onto your revised second place in Malaysia?
'It would have been nice for our promotion to second and third places to stand because our performance over the entire weekend was impressive. However, we accept that the Ferrari appeal was upheld, based on the evidence which was put forward at the appeal hearing in Paris. It's a shame that we missed out on the extra points, it makes our task of clinching fourth place in the Championship that little bit more difficult.'
PAUL STEWART, Stewart-Ford, Chief Operating Officer
'We are looking forward to the final Grand Prix for the Stewart-Ford team. Having moved ahead of Williams in the Championship standings, we will be aiming to consolidate our fourth position. The most satisfying way of doing that would be to add to our points tally in Suzuka. It's Rubens last race for the team and we hope to make it a good one for him. We are also confident that Johnny's recent upturn in performance will continue.'
MARTIN WHITAKER, Director, Ford Racing, Europe
'We are all hoping for a good end to the 1999 season in our last race as the Stewart-Ford team. The Malaysian Grand Prix was very encouraging since we were among the top three teams throughout the whole weekend and we moved into fourth place in the Constructors' Championship. Japan will therefore be crucial to our ongoing development. Suzuka is a circuit with every type of corner so it presents a real challenge. For the engines, good power is essential for the long straights and for acceleration out of the two very slow corners, while driveability will also be vital to help traction and to get the best from the double-S.'