Jaguar duo in top shape for 2000

Both drivers have spent pre-season working on a new training programme devised by Harris.

"Since we started the programme, Eddie has made big improvements," said Harris.

"And Johnny told me that he's in the best shape he's ever been at the start of the season.

"Both of them are in much better condition than when we started the programme just five weeks ago.

"They can physically judge the improvement because they recover quicker and are able to do far more work for less effort - they can really feel the difference."

Irvine is currently training in London before returning to Barcelona on Thursday, while Herbert is on a two-day training session in the French Alps. Both drivers will test this week.

"The aim is to get the drivers to a peak level of fitness and keep them there for the season," said Harris.

"But this is very much a long-term project, and there's a lot of hard work to do yet. We're not about to start patting ourselves on the back because of what we've already achieved - at the moment we're just laying the foundations."