Interview with Mark Webber

Jaguar's Mark Webber answers questions ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix

Q: A new contract until the end of 2005. How do you feel?

Mark Webber: Excited of course, and very pleased that the team is willing to make a long-term commitment with me. I am encouraged by what I have seen on the R4 to date and I know that there is more to come. I work very well with the team and I am truly committed towards taking Jaguar onto top honours.

That is the goal and given the support we have in place from Ford Motor Company, Cosworth Racing and Pi Electronics, there is nothing to stop us from moving forward given the solid baseline we now have in place with the R4.

Q: You scored your first points of the season for the team at the Spanish Grand Prix and from there you went straight on to the Paul Ricard Circuit (France) to undertake further testing on the R4. How likely is it that you will achieve a point's scoring finish in Austria?

MW: Until you get onto the track on the Friday it is always difficult to say how the car is going to perform. We have covered a lot of laps however at Paul Ricard and that has no doubt prepared the foundation for the race weekend. If we can continue with the reliability that we achieved in Barcelona then I see no reason not to challenge for points.

Q: It appears that the reliability on the R4 may have improved, what is the reality of this?

MW: The R4 has moved forwards in terms of reliability since the start of the season and our performance in Barcelona is an accurate view of where the car is today. In fact, all areas of the car have improved but let's not forget that the competition is moving forward too. The aim now is to catch-up the midfield runners in the point's table.

Q: How suited is the R4 to the Austrian A1- Ring?

MW: Again, difficult to say until the car goes testing on Friday. There is no reason for the R4 not to go well here, although I would say that Barcelona was a good track for us. Perhaps it is somewhere between Imola and Barcelona! I always look forward to racing and although the circuit is not a favourite, it has some great tight turns and it will certainly give the rubber a hard time. I know that the team and I will have a busy weekend but that's half the fun.

Q: Given the current pace and reliability of the R4, what are your aims for the remainder of the season?

MW: I have my personal goals and of course the team goals. I don't think that these have really changed too much since we first started the season and for sure, there are a few teams out there that we are capable of challenging with for a higher championship position. Like I said, earning respectability is our goal for this season and if we can exploit fully the package we have, we are on course to achieve that.

-jaguar-

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