Castrol joins forces with Jaguar.

Jaguar Racing has revealed that Castrol will join the team as a technical partner for the 2002 season, following the recent end of the outfit's deal with rival brand Texaco-Havoline.

The new agreement includes the supply of engine oil and transmission fluids, as well as fuel from Castrol's parent company BP, as Castrol works in partnership with engine builder Cosworth on the development of the CR-3 V10 engine during the season.

"We are very excited at the prospect of having Castrol as our partner," Jaguar principal Niki Lauda said, "Lubricants are a vital component for the car and can have a major influence on performance. As leaders in their field, we are delighted that Castrol will be able to bring their superior knowledge and technical expertise to our team."

A number of improvements have so far been made to the Cosworth engine following the 2001 campaign, including new design features to the block and head, which should bring about gains in horsepower and packaging.

"I'm confident that, with the right development, the Cosworth CR-3 V10 engine will make significant further gains in 2002," Cosworth managing director Nick Hayes confided before today [Friday]'s official team launch, " We are looking to improve, not only ultimate power, but also power-curve width, driveability and packaging [of the engine].

"I would also like to mention Castrol at this point. Clearly, a good lubricant is vital to ensuring maximum efficiency of the many fast-moving parts inside an engine such as CR-3 - and, with a view to ensuring the very highest quality in this area, Jaguar Racing and Cosworth Racing have formed a very strong technical partnership with Castrol. Castrol has the knowledge and expertise to make a major contribution to the development of the Jaguar Racing programme. They also have the experience of working alongside the world's leading race teams."

Castrol's technical partnership with Jaguar Racing builds on the company's position as a leading lubricants supplier to Formula One.

"We have a long and successful history of racing with Jaguar," said Stuart Smith, technology vice-president for Castrol Lubricants, "This includes wins at both Le Mans and Daytona in the late '80's in the World Sportscar series, and we are proud to once again be associated with one of the world's most distinguished racing marques."

Eddie Irvine and Pedro de la Rosa will continue to pilot the Jaguar cars, dubbed R3, for 2002, with former F3 team-mate James Courtney assuming testing duties in tandem with his move to the Carlin F3 team. The first test is scheduled for Barcelona next week.