Australian GP BAR preview

THE LUCKY STRIKE REYNARD BRITISH AMERICAN RACING TEAM - Prepared for the 2001 challenge which begins in Australia on the 2nd March 2001.

THE CIRCUIT

Albert Park in Melbourne hosts the first round of the FIA Formula One World Championship. The high-speed street circuit, which has been the regular venue since 1996, is one of the most popular circuits with drivers and spectators. The 3.295 mile track presents a number of challenges for the drivers. It is flat and, in sections, very fast. On the pit straight and again on the backstretch between the Waite and Ascari corners where drivers can reach speeds of 180mph. With the extremely hot conditions in Australia mechanical reliability will be a major factor for all of the teams competing in the 58-lap race as well as brakes as this is a hard braking circuit.

LAST YEAR

A strong showing in practice and qualifying saw Jacques Villeneuve line up in eighth position on the grid with Ricardo Zonta in sixteenth. The mood in the BAR Honda garage was ecstatic. After running as high as second for a while, Jacques Villeneuve finished fourth, bringing home the team's first ever points in its eighteenth grand prix. To make the team's day even better Ricardo Zonta also finished in the points in sixth place.

Jacques Villeneuve
"I expect that the first race will be as good as last year. I love going to Melbourne there is a great atmosphere. It is often our best showing of the season and I looking forward to racing there".

Steve Farrell, Chief Engineer, British American Racing Honda
"It is nice to be back again to the venue of BAR's first ever points scoring race here last year. It's now the challenge to improve on that result! For our third Melbourne GP we feel in good shape, having completed a very intensive pre-season test programme. We cannot be sure of our relative performance until running starts on Friday, but we have done our best over the winter, and I think we are quietly confident that we can at least carry on where we left off last year, fighting behind the top two teams. However the tyre war makes the situation more complex, but I know that Bridgestone will rise to the challenge".

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