Lauda sets out Jaguar targets

Jaguar Racing boss Niki Lauda says he expects his team to become a top six constructor in Formula 1 this year in preparation for a championship challenge in 2003

Speaking to Austrian TV on the eve of Jaguar's launch of its new car, the three-time world champion said: "After finishing only eighth in the constructors' rankings last year, this season we must climb two or three notches. In 2003 we should be ready to fight for the championship."

Lauda took over as the boss of Jaguar's F1 team last summer when Bobby Rahal was ousted from the position. But he claims that it is only now that his influence on the team will begin to show.

"My first year as Jaguar's team boss was one of analysis," he said. "It's my job to get us back on the top again and 2002 will be the year in which my changes should start to be effective."

But Lauda is realistic about the difficulty of the task he and the team faces. He said: "Our car was about two seconds too slow in 2001 and we were trailing by about 10 percent. Even if we improve by seven or eight precent, the others will improve as well. So altogether we will only catch up a little.

"It's a long way back to the top, but we will be there sooner than some might think."

For full coverage of tomorrow morning's launch at Jaguar's Milton Keynes base, click on Autosport.com.