Jaguar to conduct back-to-back test

The team had a disastrous start to the season in Australia, out-qualified by a Minardi and at the end of the opening day in Malaysia, Eddie Irvine finds himself 0.05s adrift of Alex Yoong.

Team principal Niki Lauda explained Jaguar's problems: "We had a bad start on R3 with mechanical problems on the suspension uprights in January. It was quite an easy fix but it put us back and then when we looked at the aero package over four weeks, we discovered that it was not as good as the wind tunnel said. We have to see where we qualify tomorrow and if we are not better we will back-to-back the car against the R2 in Barcelona next week."

Lauda explained that it is not totally straightforward however, as there would have to be modifications to the power steering system of R2 as well as changes to the electrics to accommodate the latest Cosworth engine.

"If we do a back-to-back and the difference is big - between half a second and a second," Lauda added, "we would go to Imola with R2 and continue to develop R3. But we will not go back to R2 permanently.

"We can use the ex-Reynard Bicester wind tunnel from April 1. We have been doing calibration for the last two months and we should then be on a similar footing to other teams and hopefully we can move forward. The R3 will be developed and as soon as it's quicker than R2 we will bring it back."

Lauda confirmed that the team will not seek an immediate successor to technical director Steve Nichols, who left the team earlier this year. And he scotched rumours that Jaguar management are getting restless.

"Ford confirmed at the Geneva Motor Show that they are committed for the next four years," Lauda said.