14/08/2004
NEWS STORY
Despite the threatening rain clouds, today's qualifying session for the Hungarian Grand Prix remained dry allowing Jaguar Racing driver's Mark Webber (27) and Christian Klien (21) to place their cars 11th and 14th respectively on the grid for tomorrow's race. The practice sessions this morning were productive as both drivers prepared the R5's balance and set-up and focused on qualifying simulations. The team is now focused on scoring points tomorrow at what has been historically a points-rewarding race.
Mark Webber: This morning was really productive for me as we managed to successfully complete my practice programme during the 33-laps. The R5 is well-balanced on this track and I went into qualifying feeling really prepared and generally happy with the set-up. Michelin have done a good job today and I like to think we have made a good choice for the race tomorrow. Going into qualifying this afternoon it did look at if it may rain at one stage so I was pleased to complete my lap in the dry. My first sector was perhaps marginally conservative but you have to be careful with that first corner under braking. I made up some time in both the second and third sectors so I was relatively pleased with my time and position. This track has been historically much hotter so the lower temperatures are making it more interesting for us. I think the race tomorrow is going to be quite exciting and I am certainly looking forward to it, lets see what happens but we have laid some good foundations and points will of course be our goal.
Christian Klien: We have been focusing very hard today on pulling together a really good set-up for the race tomorrow. I had a busy morning and spent most of my time working on balance and set-up. I am pleased with my current set-up on the R5 and doing another 28-laps this morning really helped me feel comfortable with the package. Going into qualifying I was happy with my tyre choice and I am pleased with my final time of 1:21.118. It's my best lap of the weekend although as always I would have liked to have extracted a few more tenths out of the third sector. Looking ahead to tomorrow, it's not going to be any easy race but we knew that before we came here. Overtaking is not easy and the start is all-important. I am looking forward to getting behind the wheel for the race and I will be giving it my best shot. Points would be reward for the team's hard work so lets just see what I can do.
Dr Mark Gillan Head of Vehicle Performance: This morning's practice sessions were encouraging as we successfully worked through our programmes for both Mark and Christian. Our main focus is always on the race although since over-taking is limited here we have been trying to find a good set- up for both qualifying and the race. With the track improving all the time, the drivers managed some good qualifying simulation work and general set-up. Going into this afternoon's first qualifying, it seemed that there were quite a few light fuel-loads out there. Our first session positions actually allowed us to go out early in the second session, which worked well for us. Mark's second session was pleasing and although he may have been able to extract a tenth or two more out of the first sector his grid position is encouraging ahead of tomorrow's race. Christian has done a really good job all weekend and he really pushed the car in the qualifying sessions. Given our strategy for tomorrow I am pleased with our final grid positions and we will be giving it our all in the pursuit of points.