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Jag introduces lightweight chassis

Jaguar's bid to head off the threat of Toyota in the constructors' championship has been handed a boost with the team introducing its R5B chassis for the first time at this weekend's Italian Grand Prix

The new car, which is lighter, stiffer and has a lower centre of gravity, has been brought in to help push the team's performance as it targets a strong finish to the campaign.

Only one of the cars will be available over the Monza weekend and the team said on Friday morning that it not yet made a decision about whether it would be used by one of the race drivers or test driver Bjorn Wirdheim for the first practice day.

Jaguar thrust itself into the battle with Toyota for seventh overall in the constructors' championship when Christian Klien scored three points with his sixth placed finish at the Belgian Grand Prix.

Jaguar managing director David Pitchforth said: "We have been focusing very hard on what we need to do achieve more results like Belgium before the end of the season."

The R5B had originally been created as the basis for its 2005 challenger but it was forced to scrap work on those plans when the FIA proposed new technical regulations that will require raising the front wing of cars.

Pitchforth said earlier this year: "Our R5 interim car would have been next year's first chassis but with the rule changes to the front wing then we need to do a different chassis.

"I am prepared to put this episode down to experience. We got caught out a little bit."

Webber is optimistic about Jaguar's hopes for Italy and is targeting more points. "The team has done a good job in their preparation so it would be great to give them some points back in return for their efforts."

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