Jaguar launches R5 in Barcelona

Jaguar Racing became the fourth team to launch its 2004 car, with the R5 being presented at the Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona, on January 18th.

Described by the team as an 'evolutionary contender', the 2004 challenger was unveiled by drivers Mark Webber and Christian Klien along with members of the management team. The car had its initial shakedown in a private test at Lommel in Belgium last week, and will take to the track at Catalunya for its first public run today.

"The Jaguar R5 is the first car that we have been able to design completely from scratch with our new management structure in place," said Jaguar's managing director David Pitchforth. "With our new philosophy (we are) building on what we learnt from last season."

"This car has been started significantly earlier than in the past and is an iteration of a car that we already understand pretty well and a car that had many strengths. I would never say that we got to grips with every problem on last year's but one of the things we have resisted doing on R5 is changing things simply because we didn't understand them."

"Even if we carry over some of the problems that R4 had, it is better to run something whose quirks you believe you can fix than take a gamble on something new."

For young Australian Webber, 2004 will be his third season in Formula One and the second with Jaguar. " I had the opportunity to straight-line test the car in Lommel last week and the initial results were pleasing," he said. "This year we will have to work on our race performances as they have been a weaker area for us in the past."

"In qualifying we did pretty well and I really enjoyed that part of it but you have to take that on to the race if you want to score good points and that is going to be as difficult as ever. The rule allowing just one engine means that people may struggle for reliability in the first few races and we have to be ready to capitalise when those opportunities come along."

"A good start will also give us momentum throughout the year, which we will need if we are to keep moving forward. Basically we need to see good progression and grab more points than we did in 2003"

Christian Klien was signed by Jaguar just a couple of months ago and 2004 will be his debut year in F1. The runner up in Euro F3 last year, Klien knows he has a lot of work ahead of him. "I could not have asked for a better opportunity to the start off my F1 challenge," he said. "I have a very steep learning curve ahead of me but the support within the team is terrific and in Mark, I have not only a very quick teammate but also someone who is a great team player."

"I cannot wait to get into the new car and begin what will be a very intense few weeks of testing. With only six weeks until the season's opening race, the workload will be very heavy but this is what I have always dreamed of doing. There is a big difference between everything in Formula One and where I came from in Formula Three. It is, however, what I expected and what I now have to fully prepare for."

Also present at the launch were: Ian Pocock (Director of Engineering) Ben Agathangelou (Head of Aerodynamics), Rob Taylor (Head of Vehicle Design), Dr Mark Gillan (Head of Vehicle Performance), Dr Ian Pocock (Head of Engineering) and Tony Purnell (CEO Premier Performance Division, which oversees operations at Jaguar Racing, Cosworth Racing and Pi Electronics).

Technical specifications

Chassis:
R5 composite monocoque structure, designed and built in-house, carrying the Cosworth Racing CR-6 V10 engine as fully stressed member.

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. Koni damper layout. Rear: Cast titanium uprights. Upper and lower carbon links and pushrods. Coil springs and torsion anti-roll bar. Koni damper layout.

Brakes:
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.

Cosworth Racing CR-6 V10 engine

Capacity: 2998 cc
No. of cylinders: 10
Vee angle: 90 degrees
No. of valves: 40

Power output: Not disclosed.
Max engine speed: 18,000rpm.

Construction:
Aluminium block and heads cast in Cosworth Racing's own foundry. Aluminium alloy pistons. Steel crankshaft.

Engine Management: Pi Research.

Ignition System: Cosworth Racing.

Spark Plugs: Champion.

Fuel: Castrol Racing Fuel.

Weight: Not disclosed.