Austrian GP: Jaguar preview

After three days of testing in Valencia (Spain) last week, Jaguar Racing head to the A1-Ring in Austria this weekend for the 6th round of the FIA Formula One World Championship. Typically one of the colder circuits on the calendar, designed with a mixture of slow and fast corners, with several long straights, the team is expecting another tough weekend. Although the A1-Ring does not impose too strong an aerodynamic challenge as other circuits, the changeable weather conditions will make tyre choice difficult for Jaguar Racing.

Niki Lauda CEO and Team Principal

"My home race is as important as any other Grand Prix. It is always interesting to race here because of the history that the circuit holds for me. The fact that we are here this year at the A1-Ring is down to the huge effort that went into securing its place in the FIA calendar last year. The circuit, recently modernised, is now the third fastest track on the F1 calendar. Overtaking is abundant, providing all teams with the opportunity to move through the field."

"Qualifying here is important but as last year's race showed, not necessarily an indication of your finishing position. The unpredictable weather makes tyre choice quite a challenge and given the problems we suffered in Imola with the tyres because of cold and wet weather, my home race will no doubt be a tough one. Nonetheless, I am looking forward to a challenging Grand Prix at a circuit that remains one of the most exciting and unpredictable on the calendar."

Eddie Irvine

"The A1-ring guarantees an exciting race this weekend. The changing weather conditions make the circuit a challenge for any team and should it turn out to be a wet race, it will be even more exciting than usual, although harder for us. Testing at Valencia last week allowed us to put some miles on the clock, but there will be no significant changes on the car for this weekend and this will be the case until the British Grand Prix when our new aero package arrives. The A1-Ring is certainly one of the fastest tracks on the race calendar and I like it for the overtaking opportunities that exist. The high number of incidents, particularly at the first corner, also makes this race exciting for the spectators. Staying clear of trouble and finishing as high as possible is the order of the day for me."

Pedro de la Rosa

"Because I don't have a good record at the A1-Ring, finishing the race will be my priority this weekend. My home race in Spain was a nightmare worth forgetting about and while this weekend will still pose hard challenges for us, I can't imagine a weekend harder than the Spanish Grand Prix. Our development programme with the Jaguar R3 is now well underway and even though it is very frustrating to be contesting races at the moment, we're all aiming at a target that isn't too far away now. Our recent additions to the aero department are making good progress and in the meantime, the biggest contribution I make is driving to the best of my ability - both on the test and race track."

-jaguar-