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| |  Saturday, 29 June, 2002, 14:20 GMT 15:20 UK Irvine hints at future Irvine is optimistic about Jaguar's new R3b race car Eddie Irvine has hinted that this year's British Grand Prix could be his last if Jaguar's new car does not live up to expectations at Silverstone. The 36-year-old Ulsterman insists that the performance of the new specification R3b race car will be under intense scrutiny. But he is refusing to countenance a scenario in which the car will disappoint.
"I am not thinking about this being my last British Grand Prix," said Irvine, who is nearing the end of his three-year �18m contract with the Milton Keynes-based team. "I am thinking that this package is going to be good. We are going to turn up there and surprise people and we are going to enjoy that. "But the race is going to be one of the defining factors in my future. It is going to let me know what to do. "If the car comes out and it flies then I am going to want to stay in Formula One. If it doesn't, then it doesn't bode well for the future." Jaguar have languished near the back of the grid all season with Irvine's three points in Australia their only success. The R3 car, launched at the beginning of the season, was hampered with aerodynamic problems from the start. Team boss Niki Lauda brought in Renault's head of aerodynamics Ben Agathangelou and opened a new wind tunnel in Oxfordshire to overhaul the car under the guidance of new technical director Gunther Steiner.
Irvine tested the revised R3b for the first time in Barcelona last Thursday but the session was held in extremely hot temperatures which means the car's true potential will only be discovered at Silverstone. "It makes this year's race potentially more exciting that others because no-one knows how good we are going to be," said Irvine. "We don't even know. We have just got to be optimistic because there is no point in being cautious because if that is the case it is not very satisfying. "Jaguar is in Formula One to get a good press and a good image. I am in Formula One to enjoy it. "Gunther is in it to prove a point. The guys in the garage are in it to get success. "We are not here to mess around at the back." | |
See also:  28 Jun 02 | Formula One 30 May 02 | Formula One 12 Apr 02 | Formula One 27 Mar 02 | Formula One 04 Jan 02 | Formula One 04 Jan 02 | Formula One 04 Jan 02 | Motorsport Top Formula One stories now: Links to more Formula One stories are at the foot of the page. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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