Jaguar situation 'bizarre' says Irvine

Eddie Irvine has described the situation at Jaguar as bizarre and said money was never an issue, all he wanted was a good car. This year's R3 had so many problems that near the end of the season, so much work had been done on it, little remained of ...

Eddie Irvine has described the situation at Jaguar as bizarre and said money was never an issue, all he wanted was a good car. This year's R3 had so many problems that near the end of the season, so much work had been done on it, little remained of the original chassis. Irvine managed a podium finish at Monza, in third, but it was scant reward for a long hard season.

Eddie Irvine.

Photo by Jaguar Racing.

"Niki Lauda kept saying we've no money," the Irishman told UK newspaper The Guardian. "Well I can tell you that money isn't an issue for me at this stage of my career. So I told him, make me an offer. I don't need the money, just promise me a good car. The offer never came. It's all just bizarre."

Irvine has yet to let it be known what he intends to do now that Jaguar have dispensed with his services but he said it hadn't effected his plans. He has been linked with Jordan, should the team not keep Takuma Sato, and said there were scant other options: "Yes, I suppose the new Jordan-Ford is now the only place left for me," he commented. "But there's no point in saying much else at the moment."

Eddie Jordan has said he would keep Sato if Japan will put some support behind it's only current F1 driver but sponsor Benson and Hedges are reportedly keen to have a British driver on board. Jordan will not be testing until January when the new Ford engines arrive, so it's likely Irvine fans will have to wait a little longer for any news.

Only Minardi and Toyota are yet to finalize drivers for 2003 and Toyota are widely thought to be signing CART champion Christiano da Matta. Minardi's options are open but Irvine has said he would not take a seat at an uncompetitive team. As for Arrows, nothing has been heard from the team for some time and it currently seems unlikely it will compete next year.