Eddie Irvine is confident next month's British Grand Prix will spark a turnaround in his flagging Formula One fortunes. Irvine's Jaguar Racing team will finally unveil at Silverstone the replacement for the R3 car which has proved a massive disappointment. The 36-year-old veteran reckons the improvement is due to new technical director Gunther Steiner who was brought in by former world champion Niki Lauda who replaced Bobby Rahal.
"Niki was responsible for bringing Gunther in and that was the best decision made at Jaguar since I've been here," said Irvine, coming to the end of his three-year deal with the team. "It was ground zero at the beginning of this year when Bobby Rahal's R3 came out. Gunther has joined and transformed the place and I think you will see that with the R3-B."
"I believe in Gunther and I think quite positive things will start happening at Silverstone. We tried lots of things on the car and got nowhere. It was a lost cause. It needed a whole new rethink, that's been done," Irvine added. "I don't know where it will take us on the grid as everyone is improving all the time. But I don't think we will be at the back of the grid at the end of the year."
Irvine has not scored a point since luckily grabbing three in the season opener in Australia following the massive first lap pile-up which took out almost half the grid. The Ulsterman has struggled at the back of the grid since then and knows Sunday's race in Canada and the European Grand Prix in Germany two weeks later promises more of the same before the relief of Silverstone.
"I never dreamt I would be racing Minardis in my F1 career," said Irvine, who came so close to winning the drivers' crown with Ferrari in 1999 before making the lucrative switch to Jaguar. "We're on switch off until the new car comes. There is nothing to do. We were lucky in Australia and ever since then we have been waiting for the new package to come."
"When the results are they way they are it just depresses you. There is no reason to enjoy yourself, you just wait for Sunday night to go home and wait for his new car. That's all we can do. It's not a very nice feeling."
Irvine insists he will quit Formula One rather than endure another season like this one. The veteran is desperate to get back into a competitive car and is even prepared to take a pay-cut next year if it meant he was more competitive.
"Money is not the issue," added Irvine. "I don't need the money. I've made plenty in Formula One and plenty outside Formula One so I'm not doing it for that. "
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
