Tuesday January 25th, 2000

At the launch of the Jaguar R1, Ford Motor Company Vice President and Chief Technical Officer Neil Ressler said: "Jaguar Racing is now an integrated part of Jaguar Cars and is fully responsible for Jaguar's Formula One programme. In my capacity as Chief Technical Officer of Ford Motor Company I will be ensuring that Jaguar Racing has access to the full range of Ford Motor Company's technological resources - including Cosworth Racing and Pi.

"I have always advocated the closest possible links between the racing team and Jaguaršs engineering team in Coventry and Jaguar engineers and designers are already contributing to the racing programme. I also believe that Jaguar's production car engineers can learn a great deal from the racing team in Milton Keynes. The need to solve problems quickly breeds a nimble and innovative culture which we will be able to transfer to the road car development programmes. I regard technology and process transfer as one of the major advantages for Jaguar and I intend to ensure that we use it for the benefit of our customers," said Mr. Ressler.

Jonathan Browning, Jaguar's Managing Director said: "Jaguar is expanding rapidly. We have just reported record sales for last year - up 50 percent over 1998. In Europe we grew faster than any other car manufacturer. And we have even more ambitious plans for the future. Formula One, with its massive global reach, will clearly promote a wider recognition of the Jaguar marque. Eighty percent of the cars Jaguar builds are exported. The international dimension of Formula One is a major attraction.

"We know from our previous involvement in motorsport that a successful racing programme has major commercial benefits. For example, it will give us that vital connection with the performance orientated buyers - a key factor as we introduce new performance-orientated cars in the future."

Jonathan Browning also pointed out that Jaguar employees were amongst the most enthusiastic supporters of Jaguar's new racing team. "Racing is part of the Jaguar culture and there is already tremendous excitement and interest in our plants in the Midlands and on Merseyside," he said.

Jaguar Racing's Chief Operating Officer Paul Stewart described the Jaguar R1 as a new and logical development of last season's car. "Every single element of last year's car was analysed and improved and Technical Director Gary Anderson and his team will continue to work with the drivers to make further improvements before the first race in Australia. I'm very confident that we have a car which is capable of winning races this season," he said.