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BRAZILIAN
GRAND PRIX – PREVIEW
2ND, 23RD, 24TH OCTOBER 2004
The Jaguar Racing team
travel to Brazil this week to contest the final round of the 2004 FIA
Formula One World Championship. This will be the first time the race
has been held at the Interlagos circuit at this time of year, traditionally
having been nearer the start of the season, so the unpredictable weather
could offer a few surprises. Since the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka,
the Jaguar Racing team have successfully completed a productive three-day
test at Jerez, Spain. As design and development of the 2005 car continues,
test-driver Bjorn Wirdheim completed over 280 problem-free laps in a
development chassis. As the team goes to Brazil for the final race of
the season, and the final race for Jaguar Racing, the motivation and
commitment within the team remains high. With only one point between
Jaguar Racing and Panasonic Toyota Racing, the team are determined to
fight to defend their current position in 7th place in the 2004 FIA
Constructors Championship.
Driver Preview
Mark Webber (28) "It's certainly different going to Brazil for the
last race of the season rather than one of the first. But it's a circuit
that always provides us with a good race, and I am sure this weekend
will be no different. I spoke to some of the Brazilian drivers in Japan
and they said the weather there at this time of the year is quite similar
to what they have in March, so it'll be something to look out for, as
it could be quite tropical. The Interlagos track suited our car quite
well last year, so we will be working hard over the weekend to get the
R5 set-up well and to get some good results. There are so many reasons
why it would be nice to finish the season strongly, not least of all
because it's the last race for the team under the Jaguar Racing banner
and of course my last race with the team. It's also important we try
to stay ahead of Toyota in the championship and if Christian and I can
both have a trouble-free weekend, I can see no reason why both of us
can't be in the points."
Christian Klien (21)
“It is hard to believe we are approaching the final Grand Prix of the
season, and the last race of my first year in Formula One. It has been
an incredible year, and I have really enjoyed working with the team,
both away at the races and back at the factory in Milton Keynes. It
is a great team, and I know everyone is pushing hard preparing for the
Brazilian Grand Prix, where I will be doing all I can to fight for some
all important final points. Interlagos is a new circuit for me, and
one I am really looking forward to. Personally I have been a great fan
of Ayrton Senna since I was much younger, so I am really excited to
have the chance to drive at his home Grand Prix. After the last race
in Japan, I have been at home in Austria, concentrating on fitness training
in the Austrian Alps. I hope that we can get some points this weekend
which the whole team really deserve.”
Björn Wirdheim (24)
“Since returning from Japan I have completed a three-day test in Jerez,
Spain, with the team. It was a busy three days, I drove over 280 trouble-free
laps in total. We successfully completed our test programme working
on developments for next year’s car and we achieved some good results.
I am now looking forward to going to Brazil for the final race weekend.
Interlagos was the first track I raced at in F3000 and has some good
memories for me. I like the circuit, it is a little bit different as
it is anti-clockwise. The track is very bumpy, and I have been told
it is quite physically demanding - I didn’t find this in F3000 but of
course it will be different in an F1 car. I will be working on set-up
and tyre work on Friday, and hope to get some good results to help the
team.”
David Pitchforth – Managing Director
“As we go to Brazil, the final Grand Prix of the 2004 season, and the
last race for the team as Jaguar Racing, team morale is still high -
everyone has the pride and motivation to complete the season with style
in order that we finish well and impress our future owner. We are working
hard to continue to develop next year’s car and the team’s facilities
as we go through the sales process. The recent test at Jerez was very
encouraging, as we are making good progress with components and developments
for next year. We have a fantastic group of people working inside Jaguar
Racing and their response to the announcement that the team is to be
sold by Ford Motor Company has been nothing less than outstanding. This
is a good team, one that was on the verge of doing something great in
F1, and I have no doubt that our staff are our strongest asset. We are
hopeful for a good result this weekend, the car did relatively well
in Brazil last year and the R5 has shown what is capable of, so it would
be just reward for the team’s hard work to see some well deserved points.”
Technical Preview
Dr Mark Gillan – Head of Vehicle Performance
“In Japan it was evident that the pace of the car was impressive and
that made the failure which led to Mark’s retirement all the more disappointing.
After the race it became apparent that an internal cockpit chassis fixing
had come loose, which led to hot air from the engine entering the cockpit
and heating Mark’s seat to a point which became unbearable for him to
continue. We have re-designed this feature to prevent a repeat of this
failure and fortunately Mark is fine for the Brazilian race weekend.
Following the pace we showed in Japan we hope to capitalise on our recent
performance at Interlagos, Brazil, which is my favourite circuit of
the season. It normally produces good quality races, often due to the
unpredictability of the weather - as we saw last year - when it rains
it really rains! The track, which is at a relatively high altitude,
has a reasonably flat aeroscan profile requiring medium to high rear
wing settings, that can result in large discrepancies in car’s end of
straight speeds, which in turn creates good overtaking opportunities
at the end of turn one. It is quite a physically demanding track for
the drivers due to the bumpy track surface and numerous left-hand corners.
Last year’s car, the R4, went well at Interlagos in both wet and dry
conditions, qualifying on Friday in pole and on Saturday in P3, just
5/100ths off of pole. We will be working hard over the weekend along
with Cosworth Racing and Michelin to ensure that both cars are as well
set up as is possible, and it would be great to see the R5 score some
points here.”
The 71-lap Brazilian Grand Prix gets underway at 1500 hrs (1700 GMT)
on Sunday 24th October 2004.
DRIVER PROFILE: MARK WEBBER
Date of birth: 27 August 1976
Place of birth: Queanbeyan, Australia
Lives: Buckinghamshire, UK
Marital status: Single
Height: 1.84m
Weight: 74kg
Best Saturday qualifying pos: 2nd at Malaysian GP
Points: 7
Highest race finish: 6th at German GP
DRIVER PROFILE: CHRISTIAN KLIEN
Date of birth: 7 February 1983
Place of birth: Hohenems, Austria
Lives: Hohenems, Austria
Marital status: Single
Height: 1.67m
Weight: 65kgs
Best Saturday qualifying position: 9th at Canadian GP
Points: 3
Highest race finish: 6th at Belgian GP
TEST DRIVER: BJORN WIRDHEIM
Date of birth: 04-04-80
Place of Birth: Sweden
Lives: Vaxjo, Sweden
Family: Single
Height: 183cm
Weight: 75Kg
Best Saturday qualifying position: N/A
Points: N/A
Highest race finish: N/A
2003 Brazilian Grand Prix -
Facts and Figures
Top Six Drivers Team Time
1: Giancarlo Fisichella Jordan-Ford 1hr 31’17”748
2: Kimi Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes + 0.945 seconds
3: Fernando Alonso Renault +06.348 seconds
4: David Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes +08.096 seconds
5: Heinz-Harold Frentzen +16.054 seconds
6: Jacques Villeneuve BAR-Honda +38.526 seconds
Pole Position
Rubens Barrichello Ferrari 1’13’’807
Best Lap
Rubens Barrichello Ferrari 1’22’’032
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