Efficient Internet launch for Jaguar R4

Jaguar Racing launched the 2003 R4 on the Internet on January 21st, the first 'virtual' launch in Formula One. While the event may have been lacking in a sense of occasion, the internet provided a perfect environment for the fast and efficient presentation of facts and figures. Information about the car, drivers and team personnel were instantly availabe through the team's media site, although fans may have found the public site somewhat lacking in details.

Jaguar's focus for 2003 is 'excellence in engineering', evident in the way the most senior positions from Vice President Richard Parry-Jones on down have a highly technical background. Tony Purnell, CEO of the Premiere Performance Division, founded Pi Research, a company that produced revolutionary F1 instrumentation right from the start, while Jaguar's Managing Director David Pitchforth has a strong technical background in many different racing series.

Jaguar has opted not to have the traditional overall position of Technical Director but instead has split the role into Engineering Director (Ian Pocock) and Chief Engineer (Malcolm Oastler). Pocock will have a more managerial approach while Oastler will concentrate on the engineering details.

Drivers Mark Webber and Antonio Pizzonia are optimistic about the new Jaguar structure: "The key thing is that people understand their roles a bit better, which is very important," said Webber. "But all the changes are very positive, even if no-one is pretending we've got it all sorted yet."

Rookie Pizzonia is hoping to play his part in helping Jaguar improve in 2003: "At the moment everything seems to be working fine, I'd say. I've been to the factory quite a few times, and the atmosphere is very good. The team has had a difficult time over the past few years, and I want to do my bit to help them have a better time in 2003."

Jaguar is not shying away from the fact that it hasn't had a very successful three years in Formula One, but has not let the disappointments overshadow its hope for the future: "The Jaguar Racing you see today is already a very different animal from the Jaguar Racing of 12 months ago," said a team statement. "The senior management is all-new, the drivers are all-new -- and, even more importantly, the operational philosophy, the corporate culture and the way the team goes about its business are all-new."

Engineering work will now be the backbone of Jaguar's efforts, a work ethic the team can't stress enough: "F1 is, above all, an engineering exercise. Yes, it's about glitz and glamour, too -- but teams only become glitzy and glamorous as a result of their on-track success. And the route to achieving on-track success is far from glamorous and decidedly un-glitzy. It involves solid engineering, and that can only be delivered by hours and days and months and years of hard work done by efficiently organised teams of solid engineers."

Car profile
Chassis: R4 composite monocoque structure, designed and built in-house, carrying the Cosworth Racing CR-5 V10 engine as fully stressed member, Jaguar steering and power assistance.
Engine: Cosworth Racing CR-5 V10
Capacity: 2998 cc
Cylinders: 90-degree V10
Fuel: Castrol Racing Fuel

Engine
Number of cylinders: 10
Vee Angle: 90
Number of valves: 40
Capacity: 2998 cc
Power output: Not disclosed
Maximum engine speed: Not disclosed

Construction: Aluminium block and heads cast in Cosworth Racing’s own foundry. Aluminium alloy pistons. Steel crankshaft.
Engine Management: Pi
Ignition System: Cosworth Racing
Spark Plugs: Champion
Weight: Not disclosed

Transmission: Jaguar seven-speed gearbox, longitudinally mounted high-pressure hydraulic system for power shift and clutch operation. AP Racing triple-plate pull-type clutch. Independent oil system using Castrol Fluid Technology.

Suspension:
Front: Cast titanium uprights. Upper and lower carbon wishbones and pushrods. Torsion bar springing and anti-roll bar. Jaguar/Penske damper layout.
Rear: Cast titanium uprights. Upper and lower carbon links and pushrods. Coil springs and torsion anti-roll bar. Jaguar/Penske damper layout.

Brakes:
Front: AP Racing lithium alloy six-piston callipers. Carbon Industrie or Brembo carbon/carbon discs and pads.
Rear: AP Racing lithium alloy six-piston callipers. Carbon Industrie or Brembo carbon/carbon discs and pads.

Wheels: OZ Racing
Front: 12.7 in x 13 in
Rear: 13.4 in x 13 in
Tyres: Michelin

Electronics: Pi ‘VCS’ System. Integrated engine/chassis electronic control system, DASM and DATA logger.