Lauda pledges to take Jaguar forward

Speaking at the press conference in London, where was confirmed as the Chief Executive Officer of the newly-created Premier Performance Division - which comprises Jaguar Racing, engine-builder Cosworth Racing and data acquisition experts Pi Research - Lauda said he was relishing his new challenge.

"I'm very happy to be back in F1," he said. "I learned racing as a driver, went on to learn aviation, and now I'm back to learn F1 again. It's my job to ensure Jaguar Racing goes forward in one direction quickly. In the airline business, I was the guy with his foot on the accelerator and there were 2,600 people with their foot on the brake. I had to motivate those people, and deal with all the unions. I had an offer to go to Malaysian Airlines, but I wanted to get back to F1 where everyone's foot is on the accelerator."

The 51-year-old Austrian, who went from being a world champion racing driver to an airline owner, says it is difficult to set a timescale to see results from his new position, where he will liaise between Jaguar Racing CEO Bobby Rahal and Premier Automotive Group president Wolfgang Reitzle.

"It has taken Ferrari 21 years to get it right, I want to do it quicker than that," he quipped. "2001 is a baseline year because everything was in place before these changes. I think it will be in 2002 and 2003 where the decisions we are making now will have effect - it will take a long time."

Lauda is to sell-off his 30 per cent stake in Lauda Austria, but will remain president of Lauda Italy. He says his role with PPD is nothing like that at Ferrari in 1996 because he will be working full-time on the programme.

"At Ferrari I was an external consultant while I was running an airline," he said. "I was just helping the team get the right people there. I've taken this job on 100 per cent."

Premier Automotive Group boss Reitzle, the man who wooed Lauda to join the Big Cat, believes he's got the right man for the job.

"Niki's role is to make the three companies into a winning entity," said Reitzle. "The whole thing about PPD is that we're in it to win - we're serious about this. The leadership set-up is now complete. Niki is a world-famous racing driver and entrepreneur. He is a perfectionist with a straightforward style. That is what I expect from him."

Reitzle also added that the new PPD group will be allowed to get on with its own thing and not sustain pressure from the corporate giant Ford which owns it.

"Jaguar is a racing entity that cannot be interfered with," added Reitzle. "Ford does not and did not interfere with Jaguar Racing."

Rahal, who runs Jaguar's F1 outfit on a day-to-day basis, also spoke of his satisfaction of Lauda's recruitment: "This is a truly historical moment and I look forward to working with Niki. I see him as an ally to help me take Jaguar to where we want it to be in F1."