Sauber launch: Team 'aiming high'

Peter Sauber is confident that his team can maintain its surprise form of last year and remain in the top four Formula 1 constructors in 2002

The outfit officially unveiled its new C21 racer at an airforce base in Switzerland this morning (Friday), and the team boss made it clear that he is upbeat about the team's chances with drivers Nick Heidfeld and rookie Felipe Massa.

"We know that we are aiming high," Sauber said. "We achieved an optimum result in 2001, from our point of view it was even a maximum. Nevertheless we are accepting the challenge in our 10th year of F1. We will do our utmost to keep up last year's performance. We will strive to score as many points as possible and to defend the fourth place in the constructors championship."

The new car looks similar to last year's successful chassis. Technical director Willy Rampf said: "Our main objective was to further improve the car's aerodynamic efficiency. Further development objectives include weight distribution, a low centre of gravity, a lighter chassis with more resistance against distortion, optimising the gearbox, other components and the engine, as well as the suspension."

Heidfeld and Massa have already driven the new car at Barcelona last week and reported that it is an improvement on its predecessor.