Jaguar launch new Formula One car

Jaguar launched their new R2 Formula One car today, vowing to improve on their disappointing debut last season.

Jaguar launched their new R2 Formula One car today, vowing to improve on their disappointing debut last season.

"Our aim this year is to achieve respectability and to continue to put in place the building blocks that we believe will deliver success in the long term," said Jaguar Racing team principal Bobby Rahal.

Jaguar scored just four world championship points in 2000 and finished ninth overall, ahead of only the Minardi and Prost teams who failed to score.

Rahal, a three times CART champion who raced in two grands prix with Wolf in 1978, said Jaguar saw Benetton, BAR and Jordan as their main rivals in a mid-field group behind Ferrari, McLaren and Williams.

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He said the new car, unveiled by Eddie Irvine and Brazilian Luciano Burti at a launch lacking the glitz of last year's show, should be a substantial improvement on the disappointing R1.

Jaguar were the first team to take the wraps off their new car, with Jordan following next week.

"We believe the new R2 will offer enhanced performance and reliability over its predecessor," said Rahal.

"The Jaguar R2 can be seen as very much an evolutionary version of last year's car, reflecting a rather more cohesive and integrated approach to engineering detail."

Rahal said the R2 had a seven-speed gearbox, compared to six last year, and superior aerodynamics.