Jaguar Buy Their Own Wind Tunnel

The Jaguar Formula One team will have their own wind tunnel in Britain from next month, ending a logistical nightmare of regular trips to California.

Team principal Niki Lauda said the state-of-the-art facility in Bicester, southern England, bought from British American Racing (BAR) founder Adrian Reynard and only 20 minutes away from the Jaguar factory, would produce immediate dividends.

"As soon as we get our new wind tunnel going from next month, we will be able to begin a programme that will see us improving throughout the year," he said at the launch of the team's new R3 car. "We have bought the Reynard wind tunnel in Bicester, we could already have done so last year, and we're going to start using it on February 12."

Ford-owned Jaguar have been at a considerable disadvantage in having to design their car with facilities on two continents while even smaller teams such as Arrows boast their own wind tunnel within easy reach. Northern Irish driver Eddie Irvine said last season that the lack of a local wind tunnel had been like fighting with one hand tied behind their backs for the team.

Last year's car, despite Irvine finishing third in Monaco, was slammed as being far too slow and a large part of that was due to the aerodynamics.

"It has been a major handicap," said chief aerodynamicist Mark Handford of the old set-up. "It was like a trip to the Himalayas, everything had to go in boxes and be flown in. All of these issues now go away and it's the beginning of being on a par with the opposition."