Formula 1

Jaguar MD Pitchforth's view of 2003

Jaguar Racing's Managing Director, David Pitchforth, forecasts a year of steady improvement: "If we had another season like 2002 then obviously we'd be in trouble. I think the important think is that if you look at the management of the company ...

Edited: Feb 24, 2003, 2:38 AM

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Jaguar Racing's Managing Director, David Pitchforth, forecasts a year of steady improvement:

"If we had another season like 2002 then obviously we'd be in trouble. I think the important think is that if you look at the management of the company now, it is structured the correct way."

New Jaguar Racing managing director David Pitchforth.

Photo by Jaguar Cars and Wieck Media Services, Inc..

"I'm a mechanical engineer, I work for Tony Purnell, who's an engineer, and he works for Richard Parry-Jones, who's an engineer. If you were to use that structure in any technology company worldwide people would look at it and say 'yeah that's a good structure'. It's unusual for F1 but it's time F1 grew up really these are not small race teams where you can have one technical chief and you don't worry about things like structure and organisational charts. This is a division of a far larger company and it needs to be run like a proper company."

"We need to show factual based decision making rather than thinking 'that looks trendy we need to have it on our car.' Things need to be on the car for a reason and we need to show we're understanding the car and that we're making good engineering progress just like Ford or Jaguar would do with any of their prototype cars. If we can show that the systems, procedures, design philosophy and testing is in place then I'm confident that we're laying the foundations for future success. Hopefully we've laid some of them already and some of them will come to bare and be okay."

"Of course, all of our competitors have done a fantastic job so we could actually end up being no better in grid position but there are lots of other measures of success. If we're on the second or third design of suspension by the third race like we were last year then we haven't done a very good job. If we're on the first design of suspension and we've made it better through refining then we are doing a good job and it's what engineering and product development's all about. Expectations are to be able to show and measure that the car is improving and the best measure for that is to go fast on the track. If we don't, and the other measures are still in place, then I think we'll still be fine. It may not be very comfortable in the press but we'll be okay internally."

"Both new drivers are excellent. Both are very keen, very professional and willing to work with the team. If you were to go out and talk to the workforce they would tell you they've seen both drivers in the factory, which is a novelty. The designers doing the seat fitting, HANS devices and so on are very pleased with the attitude and professionalism. Obviously Mark's driven in F1 before so he's been around the houses. Antonio hasn't so he's got a lot to learn about the circuits but I think they'll be fine. They've both got endless energy and enthusiasm, which is good."

-jaguar-

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