I arrived at Lord's cricket ground to be met at the gate, (by one of the many, modelling the new Jaguar team-wear sweat-shirts!), my car was parked by valet service (well, he was wearing a team sweat-shirt, so I figured he was either with the team, or that I was in for a bloody long walk home). I was directed towards the Jaguar pavilion which ran alongside the practice pitch. Once inside, I was given my name badge and escorted inside the pavilion, where I was offered a glass of Champagne. 

Not wishing to offend the nice young man who'd approached me with his drinks tray, I started the day off sipping my bubbly and wandering around the pavilion among the Jaguars on display. Ten minutes (and another glass of Champagne later), the room started to fill up with media people, various company representatives, and a few well known faces (Sonja Irvine, with her parents, Louise Goodman, Jim Rosenthal, James Allen and John Watson to name a few). 

I managed to grab a quick word with Eddie, who said he had known I wasn't a member of the press (my chin hitting the floor must have given the game away!), as he thought I was TOO polite! (that's a first). I asked him how he was fitting into the team, and how he gauged the performance of the car on the testing he'd done so far (quickly adding at every opportunity, that Johnny had out-paced him at every outing). "Well Jane, it's too early to say, for sure, but I'm happy with Jaguar, and I'm looking forward to the new season, y'know." 

He gave me an autograph and a kiss, and I went to "work the room" once more, with a new approach to maybe be a bit more ruthless in my approach to asking questions, and interrupt like everyone else? Nah! 

At this stage I started looking around for our own (elusive), web-master, David Cunliffe, who tried to convince me later on, by the way, that he'd made his way into the Theatre ahead of the press-pack, to claim his pitch, but who I suspect had probably sneaked his way into the dressing room to don his cricket whites and live out an early childhood fantasy on a different kind of pitch... (remember that famous cricketing commentary, that I bet they'd all been dying to say, “the batsman’s Holding the bowlers' Willey”?......). He was gone for some time anyway....... 

Later on, I saw Eddie arrive with his business manager/PA (Party Organiser!), Enrico Zanarini, (if you'd seen the TV. documentary, or was unlucky enough to receive the vid in your Christmas stocking, you'll understand). Poor guy probably had to spend best part of the afternoon trying to lure unsuspecting, single females "back to Eddie's for a party later on." 

It was now 11.30a.m. and we were all being directed into the Theatre where the launch was to take place. Attended by apparently twice as many people as they had anticipated (full of blaggers, like myself, no doubt!!), we made our way into the specially constructed marquee, which seemed reminiscent of the opening of the Dome, but with probably more people! My lifelong philosophy of "size really mattering" suddenly went completely out of the window, as I took up position alongside the "heavy mob" with their telephoto lenses and endless reels of films, dwarfing my Ixus and little Panasonic cameras. 

Steve Ryder came out on stage to introduce Jaguars chairman, Dr Wolfgang Reitzle who spoke about the fifty years that Jaguar have been consistent winners in motorsport, including the seven Le Mans victories to date. He said how motivated the team was now, and how determined they are to be successful in F1. 

Jackie Stewart, next on stage, spoke about the Jaguar heritage, and gave positive feedback on the testing that both Johnny and Eddie have done so far. (It was all I could do to resist shouting out to all and sundry as to who exactly has been topping the time sheets lately!!). It was during this speech that Jackie announced, as chairman, that he would be stepping down from full-time involvement with the team saying, "the time has come to move over and give others space to do their jobs." In public I felt he was pretty upbeat about his departure as he insisted he would still be giving input to the team, and said he would still be present at testing and would continue working with Johnny and Eddie as well as the sponsors etc. 

Now for the good bit.... the car was unveiled on a revolving platform to the strains of a burly chassis...or was that Shirley Bassey? (...must have been all that Champagne). What seemed like a million flashbulbs went off as the R1 was revealed to the world for the first time. Incredible! The R1 was waiting to pounce. 

At this point I should give you all the tech. spec. but most of that sort of information is way above this particular observer. Needless to say the stunning exterior of the R1 hides a powerful Ford -Cosworth V10 CR-2 engine and fires off 72 degree vee 10 cylinders, giving a maximum engine speed of 18000rpm-not bad for a little run about town then? If you really want to know about the finer details, we were all given press packs with photos of the R1,team photos and a list as long as your arm with all the blurb that a serious petrol head needs to know-I can fax you a copy! Needless to say its faster than S*!t off a shovel. 

Luciano Burti was introduced on stage as the teams test driver, before Johnny and then (SECONDLY), Eddie were paraded in front of the waiting media. The flashing lights from cameras that followed had me thinking I'd somehow ended up in some Rave, North of Watford. However, Johnny, Eddie and Luciano all seemed pretty relaxed and eager to give the waiting photographers the shots they wanted. "Sit on the side pods! Look left! Look right! Over towards the car! Stand back behind the car! Left foot up on the rear wheels!" I was waiting for the "left leg over your right shoulder, and right hand on the steering wheel and ...SMILE!" 

The photographers then took a back seat, after 20 minutes of snapping, to give the electronic media a chance to quiz the team in one to one interviews. The same barrage of questions from TV companies from around the world ,were answered with all the patience and diplomacy that you'd expect. I even stood next to Paul Stewart who gave an impressive interview in fluent French, until he said the words "British Racing Green" at which point he looked over at me and shrugged his shoulders as if to say, "it doesn't sound the same in French!" 

I was lucky enough to be standing next to Johnny when he gave a few interviews that afternoon. On the subject of BRG, when quizzed about the exact colour. "Well.... it's British, it's going to be racing ...and it's ..er...green" Can't argue with that! He sounded incredibly confident, happy, and just itching to show how he could get this Big Cat to perform on the track. My gut feeling is, he won't disappoint. 

Testing in Jerez and Barcelona have so far gone well for him, he has a wealth of experience, the determination, the confidence and above all the ability to make 2000 his year. He says he will give Eddie a run for his money, he doesn't seem to mind Eddie stealing the limelight, as it frees him to concentrate on the job in hand 110%. I know who my money is on. 

A question was asked by a member of the audience as to what road cars Eddie and Johnny would be driving off the track this year: "Would they be Jaguars?"

"Too damn right, I'm getting an XKR," came Johnny’s answer, before he turned to Eddie and asked him, "What are you getting then?" 

"I`m getting two. One for Italy and one for here...Oh, and I've also got a Mark 3...so I've got three. Beat that!" said Eddie.

"Looks like I've got the spare car again," joked Johnny.

As for Shirley Bassey's "History repeating itself", I think she's probably got it sussed. Johnny was the first to bring SF their first victory....Johnny will be the cat that's got the cream when he licks Irvine into shape and takes the maiden victory for Jaguar Racing in 2000. 

Johnny was last seen doing several laps of the practice pitch in one of the specially logoed Ford Galaxies. Either getting in some quick practice for driving around a circuit, or was he looking for Eddie, who'd been missing for hours? No-one seemed to know where Eddie had gone. Maybe he and Enrico had a party to get to.

This page was prepared 24th April 2000.
With thanks to Jane Dent ©.
All rights reserved.

What's New - Site Map - Fan Club - Latest News - Race News  
Results - Photos - Articles - Interviews - Biography
Forum - Links - Cartoons - E-mail - Home 

 Disclaimer, Forum Terms, and Site Credits