Launch of the Stewart-Ford SF3 1999 car

David Cunliffe's personal reflections on the launch

The M6 to Birmingham was as awful as always, but it was worth the aggravation for once. The Autosport International Show - and the launch of Johnny's car for 1999 - beckoned. Despite the traffic hold ups, I was there in time to grab a good spec for the unveiling of the new Stewart-Ford SF-3. Only a couple of professional photographers spoilt the view, but mustn't complain - their excellent photos are on the launch page.

During the wait for proceedings to commence, all I could glean through the cover on the new car was that it was still white (which pleased Bob Herbert as he'd just taken delivery of new sweatshirts and polo shirts, embroidered with a white car, for the Fan Club). Simon Taylor, Tony Jardine's partner in punditry on ITV in 1997, came on to start the ball rolling and introduced a short video "Ready to go", complete with Republica's hit as the theme music. Jackie Stewart was keen to point out that they were keeping it in the family - the video was put together by son Mark's production company. It was slick and upbeat, even though most of the team personnel pictured looked as if they would have been happier doing something else!

Video over, Jackie made the first announcement: No1 son Paul, erstwhile Managing Director of Stewart GP, was being promoted to Deputy Chairman, and a professional MD from the aerospace industry, David Ring, a man used to running a business with about 1500 more employees, had been recruited to run the company. During the press conference later, Paul admitted that, as he "hadn't been trained to be an MD" running a growing company had been a "difficult role" for him to fill over the last five years. He would now concentrate on helping his father on the commercial side, but would also retain an interest in the day to day running of the team, leaving the previously unknown Mr Ring to run the company "in a slicker fashion".

JYS's address to the throng very positive and pointed out the many changes the team were making in an effort to be more competitive. These were outlined at length and are all in the press releases. The biggest hopes for an improvement for the team came from the new Ford Cosworth V10 CR-1, the appointment of technical director Gary Anderson and, of course, having a proven race-winner, Johnny, on board as a driver. Some very clear messages came though all day: that the team is determined to move up a gear, to learn important lessons from the difficult 1998 season, and that Ford is committed to making it work - one way or another.

What of the new car? Well, to be honest, I hardly had much of a chance to look at it! But some changes were immediately obvious - the lower nose, the absence of bulges from the front suspension on top of the tub, and the sharper shape. Probably more important than all of these though is that new Cosworth. An interesting device was used at the press conference to demonstrate how much lighter it is than last year's engine: a "doorstop". This was a piece of steel, shaped a little like a toolbox with a handle, which was obviously pretty heavy (though renowned motorsport journalist, Alan Henry, did manage to lift it with one hand).

Apart from being so much lighter, the engine is said to be smaller, lower, and more powerful. If it's half as good as they say it is and, crucially, it can keep going for 200 miles, 1999 should see a big step forward for the team. The other bit of good news was that the problematical carbon fibre gearbox from the SF-2 has now become a "long term" project. The SF-3 will use a more conventional, and more reliable, magnesium box. SGP has certainly taken on board the maxim "to finish first, first you have to finish..."

My viewpoint for the unveiling was sufficiently close for Johnny to spot me in the media throng. He winked an acknowledgement and looked as though this was a part of the job he didn't mind doing but, all in all, he'd rather be behind the wheel. Your intrepid website reporter then grabbed pole position for the press conference - a front row seat. Before the two drivers, two Stewarts and one head of Ford Motorsport in Europe, Martin Whitaker, arrived, sponsors drinks (Highland Spring and Irn Bru from Barr) were carefully arranged on the table. Not carefully enough for JYS though - he turned one of the cans so that the legend "Irn Bru" was more prominently visible.

The conference was very upbeat. Much of what he said can be found on the pre-season news page. Johnny and Rubens got one question each (also on the news page). Gary Anderson, and Nick Hayes (of Cosworth) weren't overlooked. Martin Whitaker refused to be drawn on the Jaguar rumours (see the news pages) despite a very cleverly phrased and subtle question.

But the star of the show was undoubtedly the relaxed, articulate, wise-cracking Mr John Young Stewart.

JYS joked about his dyslexia, saying he was "06" (he's 60) in June, about All Bran cars going faster (it was funnier than it appears in The Times report), and about all manner of other things. His enthusiasm for the new car and engine, and for the many changes and improvements to the team, was so infectious that even the hard-bitten press corps were impressed. No doubt all pre-season launches are upbeat, but JYS believed in what he was saying, and it was easy to be swept up by it all. Johnny looked like he believed it too, when he spoke of "joining Stewart at just the right time."

I, for one, came away (after a very nice lunch) looking forward to Johnny's next couple of years driving for Stewart-Ford. And if the rumours about the Jaguar link up are true, who knows what the future may hold...

Written 8th January 1999. All rights reserved.
Article and photos © David Cunliffe.