Rahal Aims for 'Respectability'

New Jaguar chief executive officer Bobby Rahal confessed his first aim as the team's boss is to achieve respectability, though he believes they will be able to challenge Ferrari and McLaren in the future.

47 year-old Rahal, former CART driver and team owner, was appointed by Jaguar's chairman Neil Ressler at the end of last season after the team endured a miserable debut year, scoring only four points and finishing ninth in the Constructors' Championship.

"My goal for next year is respectability," said Rahal. "If we can finish in the top five or six in the championship, then I will be thrilled. There is no way in my mind that we can win next season.

"Our immediate objective is to step up our overall competitiveness in 2001, but our longer term goal is quite clearly to challenge for the top honours in the sport.

"McLaren spent years getting to where they are now," he added. "Look at Williams - at one time they were an all-conquering team then went into the doldrums but have now started to come back."

One of Rahal's first important decisions was to replace technical director Gary Anderson - one of the most renowned and respected engineers in the paddock - by American Steve Nichols, as it was announced on Friday.

Despite the new season starting yesterday, Rahal believes his decision to replace Anderson so late was the right one.

"I felt we needed a different type of leadership in the technical group," Rahal admitted. "I think it needed a more pro-active approach.

"Steve was at McLaren when they were in the doldrums. He was there during their comeback in 1996 and 1997, and having been through that there is a perspective which he can bring to our team.

"Last year Neil Ressler was observing from afar where the problems lay. When I came in I was also observing things."

Jaguar was amongst those teams that shook their cars down on Friday at the Silverstone circuit, as they prepare to travel to Spain next week to begin their testing programme.