Panis pleased with new BAR

The BAR004 was the first of this year's Formula 1 challengers to be launched and despite finishing more than two seconds off the pace on the new season's first day of running, Panis says there is a marked improvement on last year's car.

"I've enjoyed today a lot," said Panis. "We didn't do that many laps, but I felt fine with the car after just the second lap. It has a much better balance than last year's car and I'm looking forward to Jacques [Villeneuve] having a run in it."

The new car could prove key to the team's future as star driver Jacques Villeneuve is thought to have a performance clause in his contract and could walk out if the new car is not up to scratch.

The 1997 world champion's friend and mentor Craig Pollock was sacked from his position as BAR team boss before Christmas and replaced by Prodrive chairman David Richards. Villeneuve is due to drive the BAR004 later this week.