Rahal to Step In as Jaguar Boss

Jaguar Racing are expected to announce next week, at the United States Grand Prix, that Bobby Rahal will become the team chief next season.

Rahal, currently filling in as the chief executive of the CART racing series in the United States, is expected to assume the position of Jaguar Racing Chief Executive Officer, with Niel Ressler continuing in the position of Chairman.

47-year old Rahal, a former racing driver, had participated in two Formula One Grands Prix in 1978, driving for the Wolf team alongside Jody Scheckter. Rahal won the CART championships in 1986, 1987 and 1992, and he also won the Indy-500 race in 1986. He owns a CART team, whose drivers are currently Max Papis and Kenny Brack. The CART team is expected to continue operation without Rahal for two years, while he runs the Jaguar team.

Ford-Jaguar are expected Jaguar to announce Rahal's appointment in a press conference at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in the build-up to the first US Grand Prix in almost a decade.