By Phil Huff / pitpass.com (24/06/2003)
June 24 2003

BAR technical director Geoff Willis has confirmed that his team will begin the 2004 season with a revised version of its 2003 car, with the all-new 2004 model being launched later in the season, most likely after the initial 'fly away' races, a story we broke here at BAR-Talk back on 5 June. "We are going to be testing what I describe as a hybrid car at the end of this year," Willis told his team's website. "It will have this year's chassis with next year's engine, gearbox and rear suspension.

"In order to give us most time to make the next big step forward that we want for the 2004 race car, and also to start the year off very reliably, we want to run this hybrid car in the opening long-haul Grands Prix of 2004.

"Then, after the fly-away races, we will introduce the complete new car," he added, "which will have the same back of the hybrid car plus a new chassis."

It's interesting to note Willis' comment when he says that BAR wants to; "start the year off very reliably", since the BAR is not one of the most reliable cars this season having completed 677 laps thus far out of a possible 946 (71.56%), with Jacques Villeneuve being particularly hard done by having completed a mere 288 laps out of a possible 512 (56.25%).

This article was written by Phil Huff with material from pitpass.com, which was used with permission.