Irvine says reliability could help Jaguar at Imola

Jaguar Racing had a disappointing Brazilian Grand Prix, with both cars retiring from the race. Added to that, seven lap-tops were stolen from the team's garage and CEO Bobby Rahal narrowly avoided injury when an overhead camera collapsed in the pit lane. The Milton Keynes-based team will be hoping for better at Imola.

Irvine qualified just outside the top 10 for the first three Grands Prix of 2001 and as the Formula 1 circus returns to Europe, the Ulsterman feels sure that little headway has been made since Brazil, despite a two-day test at Jerez last week.

"Around 12th place on the grid is pretty much where we are in the pecking order right now," he said, "and that isn't going to change overnight. But in last week's test in Jerez, I did a lot of tyre testing with encouraging results and we also have some new aerodynamic bits, which improved front-end stability."

The under-performing Benetton of Giancarlo Fisichella outpaced the Jaguars of Irvine and team mate Luciano Burti on both days of testing at Jerez, but despite the car's lack of outright pace, Irvine believes the resilience of the R2 could lead to a respectable finishing spot this weekend.

"On a track that often sees a high retirement rate," said Irvine, "the fact the R2 is a reliable old girl might pay off for us. On the strategy side, I guess the race should be a two-stopper. It usually is, and with tyre wear a more important factor this year, a one-stop seems unlikely."

Burti has never raced at Imola before, but the young Brazilian believes he can continue to push Irvine this weekend. Both drivers have the threat looming over them of losing their seat to test driver Pedro de la Rosa, who has a guaranteed race drive for 2002.

"I don't know this track," said Burti, "but it doesn't strike me as being too difficult to learn as far as layout is concerned. It was pleasing that I was very close to Eddie all weekend [in Brazil]. It's healthy to have both cars fighting so closely and I hope we can carry that momentum through to Imola."