Modern F1 car returns to GP Circuit 2004 Jaguar R5 averages 110.88mph round Brands Hatch
A stunned bank holiday crowd witnessed FV10’s Jaguar R5 F1 run on the Grand Prix Circuit at Brands Hatch last weekend. The event marked the first time in over ten years a contemporary F1 car has been driven on the circuit, as Marc Hynes drove the Cosworth V10 powered 2004 Jaguar round for some demonstration laps.
The Jaguar R5, in which Mark Webber scored points in the 2004 Word Championship, is one of only a handful of fully operational 21st Century Formula One cars in private hands worldwide. Sunday’s enthusiastic spectators saw the FV10 liveried car reach an average speed of 110.88mph round the GP circuit on its best flying lap. Ex-Formula 3 Champion and BAR test driver Hynes, in drying but still damp conditions set a fastest lap time of 1min14.7secs, less than three tenths of a second slower than Robbie Kerr’s pole position time for the A1GP World Cup Of Motorsport sprint race at Brands Hatch earlier this month.
Speaking at Brands Hatch, Hynes praising the Jaguar said, The car proved to be totally drivable in the conditions, with the traction control keeping the immense power safely under control on the damp circuit. I am pleased about the time, but there was so much more to come on a dry circuit. What a privilege to drive a modern F1 car on the historic Brands GP Circuit, it was fantastic.” Although piloted by Hynes last weekend, the car is run by FV10 in partnership with engine specialists Cosworth, which offers drivers a once in a lifetime chance to purchase and drive their own 21st Century F1 car. Bernard Ferguson, former Director of Motorsport for Cosworth and now a consultant for the FV10 project who was also present at Brands commented, ”The FV10 team did once more a fantastic job. The car proved reliable and ran faultlessly. We are now looking forward to delivering the first clients’ car, a Jordan EJ13, in the next few weeks.”
James Martin, celebrity Chef who recently competed in the world famous Mille Miglia in his 1948 Maserati A6GCS was one of the many high profile guests to visit the FV10 pit garage during the weekend. James took the opportunity to sit in the cockpit of the R5 saying, with a big grin on his face, “I really need one of these! Sitting in the car makes me realise why the team is so passionate about what it does. What I’ve seen today on track was awesome.”
FV10 Background
Cars International, a worldwide supplier of highly specialised road and racing cars, set up FV10 (launched in December 07 at Silverstone) in partnership with engine specialists Cosworth, to market and maintain post-2000 Formula One cars for private owners. FV10 has already acquired a fleet of recent-model Jordan’s, Jaguar’s and Super Aguri’s that are now affordable for more than just the super rich and the series is endorsed by Ex F1 and ITV F1 commentator Martin Brundle. The FV10 technical and maintenance team is made up of ex-F1 personnel and headed by Tim Preston. He has worked for Formula One teams Williams F1 and Sauber and with F1 drivers such as Damon Hill, Juan Pablo Montoya and Jenson Button.
Marc Hynes heads up the driver-training element of the programme. The experienced driver and instructor has trained some the biggest names in Formula One, including Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton. Paul Osborn and Jonathan Kaiser, co-owners of Cars International, are the driving force behind FV10, and have pulled together an impressive list of companies from the world of motorsport to help deliver this unique offering. Supplementing the technical experience at Cosworth, the list of high profile partners supporting FV10 includes Air Partner, Oakley, Bell Helmets, AWS Racewear, Avon Tyres and BMTR
