Courtney to combine F3 with F1 in 2002.

Jaguar Racing today announced that James Courtney will join the Carlin Motorsport British Formula Three team as their lead driver for the 2002 Green Flag British Formula Three Championship.

Courtney from Sydney, Australia, finished fourth in the Green Flag British Formula Three Championship this year with the Jaguar Racing Formula Three team and marks himself out as a potential 2002 championship challenger with the successful Carlin outfit.

Despite this move to the Carlin team, Courtney will continue to be an integral part of Jaguar Racing's F1 testing programme as he did throughout the 2001 season.

"We feel that Jaguar Racing will benefit from James' on-going development as a driver if we continue to play a lead role in his career," commented Niki Lauda, Team Principal of Jaguar Racing. "When he tested the Jaguar R2 car this year, James showed himself to be comfortable with the physical demands of an F1 car and he was able to adjust his driving style to suit the qualities of a car with approximately 600bhp more than his regular F3 car."

"I am delighted that Jaguar Racing is giving me this opportunity to continue to contribute to the team's development," said Courtney. "For any aspiring racing driver, the opportunity to test a competitive F1 car and to give meaningful feedback to a developing team is an enviable opportunity and one which I relish. That and the dream-ride in F3 for 2002, gives me the perfect season to look forward to - I can't wait!"

"The dominant performance by Takuma Sato in the Carlin Motorsport F3 car this season demonstrates how a second season in F3 can benefit a driver and it's great to be going to the Championship winning team," he added. "The fact that Sato moves up to F1 with Jordan Grand Prix in 2002 proves that success in F3 can lead to an F1 seat - but winning the British Formula Three title for Carlin is my immediate goal."

When his driving commitments allow, James Courtney will continue to work as an active ambassador for the Jaguar marque at F1 test sessions and in the Jaguar marque's communications activities.