No Big Expectations, Says Gascoyne

Benetton's new Technical Director Mike Gascoyne expects his team to have a tough first part of the year next season.

Gascoyne joined Benetton at the end of the 2000 season following his departure from Jordan, and after a few months with the Renault-owned team he is under no illusions for the upcoming year.

Although the new Benetton, set to be launched on February, will already be influenced by him, Gascoyne believes there hasn't been enough time to change things as much as he would have liked.

"We're not expecting things to be easy in the first half of the season," Gascoyne told the BBC. "There is a lot of work to do here and there just hasn't been enough time to do it. "There has been a lot of fire-fighting rather than getting on with things, and that's very time-consuming. Fortunately, for 2002, everything should be in place - that's when we really need to be on top of the game, and we will be.

"This year, we have to make sure we get better and better through the season, and be able to challenge nearer the front in the second half of the year." Gascoyne has already seen what things should be changed at Benetton in order to succeed, and he is ready to make the necessary changes to be competitive in 2002, when Renault will make its official debut as a team.

"What is important is that we don't do this year what Benetton normally do," he added. "In the last few years, they have scored a few points on reliability at the start of the year and then when everyone else has their acts together Benetton has not been quick enough to fight."

Benetton will resume winter testing next week at the Jerez circuit, in Spain, while the new car will be launched on February 6.