eddie over jaguar

[Raceboy]

Q&A: Eddie Irvine.

Eddie Irvine was his usual media-friendly self at the Jaguar Racing's launch of their new car, the R3, and gave his opinions on the team's new challenger, his hopes for the 2002 season, and team supreme Niki Lauda's forthcoming test drive. For once the Ulsterman seemed to be downplaying his hopes for the season, making no predictions until he had the chance to try out the R3 against the other teams:

Eddie, are you happy with the new car at this stage?

Eddie Irvine: “Well, I'm not downbeat! I'm just trying to wait-and-see. It's easy to say that the car is going to be fantastic, and come the first race and you are 20th on the grid then you look a plonker. I'd rather just wait and see.

“For sure it's better than last year's car, but it's too early to say where we're at.”

What does the car need to be better than the R2?

EI: “It is better in all the right areas. Between 2000 and 2001 the c-of-g [centre of gravity] went up and the aero went down, and the car went slower - which is what you'd expect. Between last year and this year the c-of-g has gone down, the weight has gone down, the power has gone up, and the downforce and efficiency have gone up - all the things which ought to make the car go quicker have happened.

"I'm sure the new car will be quicker - but how quick against other people we have to wait and see."

How important will 2002 be for Eddie Irvine, it is, after all, the final year of your Jaguar contract?

EI: “The end of my current contract with Jaguar! If I do the job then I'll stay, if I don't do the job then I'll go, that's normal in this sport.

“Last year we had a car that performed in the races ok, and I think Michelin was a large percentage of that. Michelin did an amazing job, and I think that was worried me the most, I think people didn't realise how much Michelin was giving us performance in the races, and it was worrying me about this year's car that people would just think the old was good in the races.

“I think the guys have done a good job with the tools they have. The don't have a wind tunnel across the street, and with the tools they have been given I think they have done a good job with this car, and when the new wind tunnel comes on line I think that's where we can give them the equipment they need to do the job we expect of them.”

You came to Jaguar hoping to achieve success, and so far it hasn't happened, is this year you best chance so far?

EI: “I think this is the beginning. This is where we should have been two years ago, we should have had a proper fuel partner like we have with Castrol now, we've got a great partner with Michelin, and the car is closer to the level of performance that we desire than the previous two cars have been.

“I think the team is functioning closer to the way a top Formula One team should function than it has in the past. It probably should have happened two years ago, but now it is happening - better late than never - but now we start to go forward.”

You said that you were getting fitter and stronger as you got older - why is that?

EI: “I don't know, but I am! I did a fitness exam a couple of weeks ago and it's one of the highest results ever measured by a Formula One driver. Shocking! It surprises even me!

“I do the same things as before, and its going well, but it's really waiting to find out what's going to happen to this car that is the questions mark. I don't think I am going to get tired at the end of races, that's not an issue. If you look at my races last year, I was flying at the end of the races - it was the Saturday that was normally the problem for us.”

Will Niki Lauda frighten you guys by getting in the car, and what is he going to learn?

EI: “I think we'll have to put an even smaller steering wheel on it to get it past his belly!

“It will be interesting. I think it is a good idea in a way so he can relate to what we are talking about. It's been a long time since he was in a Formula One car, and I've driven cars from his era and it was like driving a saloon car - they were so easy it was incredible.

“I think it will be an eye opener for him.”

What will be your definition of success this season?

EI: “I think that Benetton's definition of success at the beginning of last year was totally different from what it would have been at the end of the year -and it could be the same for us. I think what is important is that we understand what went wrong with last year's car, which we're still working on, and we'll be testing at the next test with last year's car as we think we've finally figured out what's going on with it.

“I'd love to be on the podium again at Monaco, I've done that there four times in the last five years and it would be great to keep that run going. It may be asking a bit too much, but standing here now - if we got a podium in Monaco and quite a few fifths and fourths, I'd be more than happy.”