FEBRUARY 8, 2001
Former Jag man moves to Reynard
FORMER Jaguar and Jordan technical director Gary Anderson has finalized his future by joining Reynard, scotching rumors that he may join Sauber or Arrows.
The 49-year-old will take up his position as North America technical director and chief technical liaison engineer on March 1, and will be therefore concentrating on the company's ChampCar program.
The announcement marks the end of a ten-year Formula One career for the Irishman, and sees him return to the company with whom he was chief designer in the late eighties.
Mark Smithson, managing director of Reynard Motorsport, said: "We are very fortunate to have Gary joining the company.
"He takes on a role that is critical to the success of our race programmes, particularly ChampCar, and I know that he will be a welcome and valuable addition to Reynard.
"With over 25 years experience in top level motorsport, Gary brings vast knowledge and expertise, which we need to continue to produce winning cars. He will be helping us push new standards."
Explaining more of the details to Anderson's new job, Smithson added: "Gary will be a central point of contact for all technical enquiries from our teams. He will also ensure that we have close communication between our teams and our design office."
One of the most respected British motorsport engineers, Anderson entered Formula One with Jordan in 1990, and his 191 car was a huge success, taking the team to fifth in the Constructors' Championship in their first year.
He continued with Jordan until mid-1998, when he left the team just weeks before their first win. He had success with Stewart the following year, but when Stewart became Jaguar in 2000 the new R1 was not up to speed, and it was his head on the block.
Anderson was dumped by Jaguar, and has said that he has become disillusioned with Formula One. The management roles he was being forced into were not what the very much hands-on engineer wanted, and he is relishing the chance to experience some real racing in ChampCars.
"I am looking forward to my new role at Reynard," he said. "I am no stranger to ChampCars and have always enjoyed the racing and excitement of the Series.
"The technology and engineering within the sport is advancing at a very fast pace and it will present a new challenge for me to be part of this growth.
"I will be in the front line at races and plan to build close working relationships with the customers, so that we can continue to develop the cars and win races."
Anderson's new team is no stranger to success, having won six consecutive drivers and constructors CART championships, and it has dominated the FedEx Championship series since the company entered in 1994.