The car that will carry Jaguar’s Formula One hopes when the new Grand Prix season starts was unveiled in Coventry today.

THE JAGUAR R2

The Jaguar R2 was launched at Jaguar's design and engineering centre at Whitley amid optimism that the team can push for a better season than last year.

Speaking at the launch, Jaguar Racing CEO and Team Principal Bobby Rahal said:

"We have experienced a challenging first year in the sport but implemented changes that we feel are necessary to deliver our objectives.

“Our aim this year is to achieve respectability and to continue to put in place the building blocks that we believe will deliver success in the long term.

“We are unswerving in our ultimate goal which remains to challenge for World Championship honours."

This year Eddie Irvine will race alongside 25-year old Brazilian Luciano Burti who graduates from his previous position as Jaguar Racing development driver during 2000.

SIDE VIEW OF THE R2

Burti impressed the team with a mature and determined drive in the 2000 Austrian Grand Prix when he stood in for Irvine.

The new test driver will be 20-year old South African Tomas Scheckter, son of 1979 World Champion Jody.

He has graduated from a successful season with the Stewart Racing Formula Three team to become Jaguar Racing's Formula One development driver for 2001.

The new Jaguar R2 Formula One car was unveiled by Eddie Irvine, Luciano Burti, chief designer John Russell and chief aerodynamicist Mark Handford.

Responsibility for the development of the R2 during the 2001 season will be led by technical director Steve Nichols.

Rahal also launched the Jaguar Racing F3 team, which won numerous victories when it was known as Stewart Racing Formula Three.

The Jaguar Racing F3 drivers competing in the 2001 British Formula Three Championship will be 19-year old German Andre Lotterer - recently voted as Germany's junior rookie driver of 2000 by the readers of Motor Sport Aktuell magazine  - and 20-year old Australian James Courtney.

Jonathan Browning, managing director of Jaguar Cars, said:

"These are exciting times for Jaguar and I am constantly reminded of the passion and enthusiasm for the Formula One programme by our whole workforce.

“By competing in the highest level of motorsport we are clearly demonstrating that 'performance spirit' is one of Jaguar's core brand values and we will be delivering products which reflect this quality."

Jaguar Racing has carried out an intensive period of winter testing with a hybrid R1'B' chassis. The R1'B' mates the rear suspension and new generation Cosworth CR3 engine to the front end of the 2000 season R1 leaving the team in a better state of preparation than in 2000.

Bobby Rahal also announced that a new major partner for the team for 2001 will be AT&T Business, the global communications solutions company.

Michelin also joins Jaguar Racing with the supply and co-development of tyres for the new Jaguar R2.