Jaguar News

Tuesday, 19-Mar-2024 06:34:44 CET  

Home

Jaguar cars for sale

Jaguar clubs

Jaguar dealers

Jaguar events

Jaguar photos


Automobile photos

Classic car shows

Links

Contact


Editor/Photographer : Mark Charles

 

August 24 2004

BELGIAN GRAND PRIX – PREVIEW

Jaguar Racing departs this week to Spa–Francorchamps (Belgium) to prepare ahead of Sunday’s Formula One Grand Prix. As the 14th race on the calendar the team is keen to continue with their strong reliability on track as well as adding to their Championship points. Spa is a track steeped in history that many drivers view as one of the most exciting tracks to drive a Formula one car on. As a true driver’s circuit, Mark Webber (27), Christian Klien (21) and Bjorn Wirdheim (24) are all excited about getting out on track and testing the R5 through the eau rouge corner on Friday. With development of the R6 well underway, the team are keen to extract as much data from the R5 as possible during the remaining five races.

Driver Preview

Mark Webber (27)

“It’s really good to be heading back to Spa for the next race. This circuit has so much history and it’s a track that I enjoy racing at. I have raced there many times before in lots of different formula, from Ford, F3, F3000 and F1. I was first there in an F1 car with Minardi in 2002. It’s an amazing circuit and the speeds are incredible making driving an F1 car fantastic. I think that the speeds we will be reaching this year will be even greater than in the past and this will surely make watching it for the spectators something special. The weather at this track plays a big part in the weekend and can really keep you busy with your tyre and strategy decisions. Being within the mountains means that we can start the day with a wet track and two hours later it’s hot and dry. Choice of tyres are as always crucial to our overall race weekend so we will be spending a lot of time on Friday getting to grips with these. I understand that they have slightly modified the Bus-stop chicane so it will be interesting to see if this slows us down a bit. I am looking forward to the eau rouge corner in particular, it’s so fast and that’s what makes driving an F1 car through it so much fun”.

Christian Klien (21)

“I have raced at Spa before so this is really good for me going into this race weekend. I was actually there with the Formula Renault European Championship two years ago and I loved it. I remember it well and I am really keen to get back out there and try it in a Formula One car. The track is really challenging and the thing that I think will strike me most are the speeds that we will be reaching in the R5. Not only has it got very high-speed corners, but the track itself if very long at just over 6km. In order for me to understand the track as much as possible before I arrive there I am spending time with my engineers in Milton Keynes and try to see as much data as possible. Since the track is also going to be quite physically demanding I have been training in London with the team physio. Being prepared both physically and mentally is crucial to getting the most out of the car over the weekend. We need some points this weekend and I would love to score my first ones here”.

Björn Wirdheim (24)

“Spa is an amazing track and one that for me holds a lot of passion and history. I first experienced the circuit when I was racing in my first year with F3000. I also tested there quite a lot so I feel quite comfortable with the layout and what to expect. It really is a driver’s circuit, one where the driver can honestly make the difference. Having the mental focus to go through eau rouge at top speed is not for the faint hearted. Although I have never raced there in a Formula One car I am sure that it is going to be an amazing experience if not also a very challenging one. I will be spending most of Friday focusing on the tyres and trying to help the team make a decision ahead of qualifying. I understand from the team that the weather can cause a few problems there so I am keeping my fingers crossed for some dry conditions. Michelin have been strong here in the past so I am keen to see how we do this weekend”.

David Pitchforth

“With only five races to go before the end of the season we have been focusing very hard on making the most of our R5 package and fine tuning the car to ensure that we can capitalise on any points opportunities. We enjoyed a good reliable weekend in Hungary but we need to be scoring points as well as finishing the race. Mark, Christian and Bjorn were all at the factory here in Milton Keynes last week and they seem more motivated then ever and very committed to scoring some points for the team. The R5 continues to have a competitive pace on track and we are pleased with the good relationships that we have with our tyre partners, Michelin and of course our engine provider, Cosworth Racing. Michelin continue to provide us with strong tyre compounds and the engine has proved its reliability over recent races. Looking ahead to this weekend in Spa I am excited about seeing the car on track at this remarkable and exciting circuit. I know that all three drivers know this track and enjoy it so I am sure that we are going to see some fast times and also a strong competitive race on Sunday”.

Technical Preview

Dr Mark Gillan – Head of Vehicle Performance
“This marks a return for us to a track where when we last raced we finished 6th. Since 2002 when we were last there, there have been a few circuit changes but I am not expecting things to be dramatically different. The track requires medium down-force from the car and the balance is all important. Despite the medium down-force you also need quite a bit of front wing due to the ride heights that are set to avoid excessive grounding. The weather will play a large part in the weekend and although we would like a dry weekend, with the mountains surrounding us, there is always some rain to liven things up. There is no doubt that this is one of the fastest tracks on the calendar, I think this is why the drivers love it so much. However, with speed comes attrition so we will be looking to have an error–free weekend and two cars finishing the race on Sunday. The circuit is also quite hard on the tyres, meaning that Michelin will be working with us very closely to ensure that we can produce the best package ahead of qualifying and the race. The R5 has had a slightly modified aero package for this weekend and the engine also continues to be developed and fine-tuned ahead of the remaining races. Looking back briefly to Hungary, we learnt a lot from the race and in particular on tyre-management and will be taking this additional information with us to Spa in the hope that not only will the cars be finishing, but they will be scoring points as they cross the line”.

Headlines

XF - First impressions

Jaguar reveals the new generation X-type

Jaguar/Land Rover bidders need more time

Spied: Jaguar XF-R

'Jaguar' badge for the chop - designer

Revealed - The all-new 2009 Jaguar XF

O’Driscoll replaces Boerio as Jaguar MD

Jaguar collects customer service plaudits

Jaguar take sthe number one position in the 2007 J.D. Power study

Ford readies Jaguar and Ford for sale

Roger Putnam receives CBE

2007 Jaguar XK wins Autonerve magazine "Best Convertible" award

Jaguar X-typenamed top aspirational luxury car

Jaguar XKR convertible tops 2007 best road trip car list

Jaguar XJ named one of the safest cars

Robert Motors celebrates 25 years of success

The all-new Jaguar C-XF

The all-new Jaguar C-XF revealed

2006 Headlines

S type revised

Top Gear crowns Jaguar XK 'Car of the year 2006

Jaguar cars announces the new Jaguar XF

Jaguar Canada announces all-new-2007 XKR coupe and convertible pricing and option packges

Jaguar USA announces 2007 XKR coupe and convertible pricing and option packages

Jaguar supports home show with global debut of supercharged XKR

Jaguar announces its new advanced vehicle entertainment technology

Callum brothers win 2006 Jim Clark memorial award

Jaguar XJ voted best large executive car at the Auto Express Used Car Honours 2006

Jaguar Land Rover North America announces new vice president of customer service

Jaguar sells off Browns Lane site

AAA names the Jaguar XJ8L as top car pick for 2006

Ford says of Jaguar - safe in our hands

The new Jaguar XK winner of "What Car?" award

Jaguar announces all-new 2007 XK coupe and convertible pricing

2005 Headlines

Jaguar reveals all-new XK convertible

All-new Jaguar XK premieres world-first deployable bonnet system

All-new Jaguar XK is unveiled atFrankfurt show

Jaguar unveils all-new XK sports car

Jaguar announces new vice president

Tne new XJ 2.7 diesel and 2006MY XJ range

Jaguar brings tpgether emerging artists

Daimler returns with an all-new model, the Super Eight.

Geoff Polites is appointed CEO of Jaguar

June sales

New XJ 2.7 Diesel and 2006MY XJ range

Jaguar announces mobility program

Jaguar XJ wins best luxury car in the 2005 fleet world honours

Jaguar cars for Jaguar cats

April Newsletter

Ford's newest atShanghai

Jaguar revises prices for 2005 S-type and XJ models

Jaguar appoints new global Advertising Agency

February newsletter

Jaguar XJ6 wins award

Jaguar X-type diesel even more tax efficient

Tim Watson appointed new communications chief

Jaguar's best ever year in Europe

Jaguar advanced lightweight coupe makes world debut

Limited edition Jaguar XK 'VICTORY'

Jaguar Canada sales reports

2004 Headlines

More job losses likely say unions

Bonspeed X type at SEMA, Las Vegas

Jaguar scoopsScottish luxury and diesel categoryawards

Japanese Grand Prix - Preview

Jaguar Canada reports September sales

Chinese Grand Prix – Race

Chinese Grand Prix – Saturday Qualifying

Chinese Grand Prix – Friday Practice Sessions

Jaguar workers stalk Ford in Paris

Jaguar workers back call for industrial action ballot

Jaguar to drop British Racing Green

Jaguar leaps forwardin 2004 in
J.D. Power study

Jaguar North America expands conservation trust

Jaguar question to be put to Commons

Jaguar production to end at Browns Lane

Jaguar cuts production due to poor US sales

Belgian Grand Prix - Race

Belgian Grand Prix - Qualifying

Belgian Grand Prix - Practice

Belgian Grand Prix - preview

Jaguar factory capacity cut announcement "weeks away"

Jaguar fears on factory closure

Jaguar North America dedicates its archives

Job cuts "unlikely" at Jaguar

Jaguar team to be come Ford?

Jaguar exhibits the iconic E-type at the design museum

Plans to cut Jaguar production

Jaguar "People Solutions" in the frame for prestigious award

European Grand Prix - Qualifying

European Grand Prix - Practice

European Grand Prix - Preview

Jaguar at design festival

Steinmetz& Jaguar Racing

Monaco Grand Prix - race

Monaco Grand Prix - qualifying

Monaco Grand Prix - practice

Monaco Grand Prix - preview

‘The movies’ meets Jaguar

Jaguars invade Normandy

Spanish Grand Prix - race

Spanish Grand Prix - qualifying

Spanish Grand Prix - practice

Spanish Grand Prix - preview

Jaguar U.S.announce executive appoinments

April 2004 U.S. sales

2003 Headlines

"Browns Lane plant to close" rumour

Jaguar select edition captures award

Jaguar racing engine makes successful debut

Japan Grand Prix

X-type estate makes its debut at Frankfurt

Jaguar R-D6 concept unveiled at Frankfurt

Hungarian Grand Prix

The New Jaguar X-Type Estate

Jaguar opens new test centre at the Nürburgring

TWR history goes under the hammer

French Grand Prix - Saturday Qualifying

The new X-type 2.0D.

Canadian grand prix - preview

Jaguar to premiere new V6 diesel engine

New Jaguar sports car sets the pace

Jaguar boss announces retirement

Lap record eases heat on Jaguar

TWR is placed in receivership

Canadian debut of the 2004 XJ sedan

Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust at Techno Classica Essen

XKSS sells for $1.1 million

Jaguar to temporarily suspend X-type production

New XJ prices released

Jaguar R4 unveiled

F1 car launch

2002 Headlines

XKSS for sale at auction

Driver change at F1 team

Indianapolis X type

Jaguar from latest Bond film at British Motor Show

New XJ released

Revised XK released

Jaguars at Monterey

Changes in management line-up

F type on hold

New XJ8 for 2003

Morse Mark 2 sells at auction

Jaguar announces expanded 2002 Trans-Am Series Contingency Award Program

Jaguar Heritage on display at Techno Classica Essen

400 bhp S type R launched

Jaguar Racing unveiled its 2002 challenger, the Jaguar R3

2001 Headlines

XJ13 not for sale

Bike ace signs for Jaguar

New 2 litre X type

Jaguar Racing and ChevronTexaco to end their technical relationship

Frank Sinatra's XJ40 sold at auction

New MD for Jaguar Racing

Changes at the top

Jaguar presents the R Coupe concept

Two new special editions

New organization for North America

New XJ6 test vehicle

F-TYPE roadster production to go-ahead

This site has no connection whatsoever with Jaguar Cars Ltd

©Jaguars4sale Ltd