Nasser Believes Jaguar's Getting Stronger

Jac Nasser, the Ford President, is optimistic that the foundations are in place for the Jaguar Racing team to progress and to start to record more consistent and productive results.

Nasser refused to get too carried away, however, but predicted that the Ford-owned Jaguar outfit have the potential to surprise some of the top teams.

"It won't be a year of stunning success for us on every occasion," said the American. "But we hope to not only consolidate but maybe surprise one or two of the other teams."

The team underwent massive changes in personnel over the winter, and Nasser believes the arrival of Niki Lauda and his immediate bond with Bobby Rahal will soon reap rewards.

"His [Lauda's] relationship with Bobby Rahal is unbelievably good," remarked Nasser. "They trust each other, they respect each other, and I think they are going to be a big boost to the team's capabilities and skills.

"I think for the challenges we face at this point in time it's a very, very strong team. The cars are better developed, the team people know each other better, and we've got great leadership. And we've got our fingers crossed."