Formula One team Jaguar Racing today appointed Steve Nichols as their new technical director. Nichols, who has been snapped up from rivals McLaren where he was head of future projects, replaces Gary Anderson, who is leaving the team. The move comes as Jaguar seek to improve on their fortunes having scored just four points last year when finishing ninth in the manufacturers' championship.
According to Neil Ressler, chairman of Jaguar Racing, Nichols will be bringing a new technical dimension to the team. He streesed: “Steve’s experience at the highest levels of Formula One racing, together with his engineering skills, will give new impetus to Jaguar Racing as we build for the future.”
Ressler, commenting on Anderson's departure, added: “During the 2000 season Gary has worked hard to make the Jaguar R1 a competitive challenger in Formula One. But at this stage of our development, we believe that a change in the team's technical direction will benefit Jaguar Racing as we go forward.”
Nichols, who will oversee an intensive winter testing programme, was previously chief designer at McLaren and Jordan and has also worked for Ferrari and Sauber. Bobby Rahal, who officially started work as the team's chief executive officer today, added: “I fully support these changes. Our immediate objective is to step up our overall competitiveness in 2001 but our longer term goal is quite clearly to challenge for the top honours in the sport.”
Eddie Irvine, who scored Jaguar's only points in a troubled first season, following the change of name after Jackie Stewart's team was bought out by Ford, will be partnered by Brazilian Luciano Burti next season. (PA)
Filed by Shane Murray
