Jaguar Pleased with Qualifying Performance

Jaguar Racing's Mark Webber placed the Jaguar R5 on the second row of the grid for today's Japanese Grand Prix, giving the team a much needed achievement, as owners Ford are looking to sell the outfit within the next month.

Webber made an impressive effort in both sessions this morning, setting the fourth fastest time in the first qualifying session, and then improving to third in the second.

"It's been a good start to the day for us here in Suzuka," the Australian said after qualifying. "We would have liked to have had more time to prepare the cars for today but as it has turned out I am really pleased to be in 3rd position for the start of the race.

"My first qualifying session made it possible for me to go out much later in the second session, which has helped us. The boys have done a great job preparing the car given the little amount of track time we have had and our third position is a good morale booster. I am really looking forward to the race and although it is a long race I will be doing everything I can to finish in a points scoring position."

Webber's teammate, Christian Klien, ended up 14th in both first and second qualifying sessions - and the team said the result was credible, given that the Austrian had never driven at Suzuka before and that qualifying today was effectively the first time the drivers were out on dry-weather tyres.

"Before today's qualifying I had only managed to complete nine fast laps and those were in extreme wet conditions," Klien said. "I knew the guys were going to prepare the car as best they could so it was up to me to give it my best shot in qualifying.

"The track was drying up this morning and this has made conditions easier to drive in. My first qualifying was ok but I am pleased with my second session when I finished fourteenth. The circuit is not easy to drive and I think that this afternoon is going to be challenging."

"Despite a lack of preparation time on track the team has done an excellent job today in delivering two strong cars and qualifying in good points contending positions," added Dr Mark Gillan, Jaguar's Head of Vehicle Performance.

"Mark drove two very clean qualifying laps which saw him secure a well-deserved third place on the grid and Christian who has only ever completed twelve laps in total here finished fourteenth. All in all, I am very pleased with our performance so far and we are now focusing on the race with the aim of delivering some more Championship points."