2003 CHAMPIONSHIP! WHAT A SEASON! NEW RULES, NEW DRIVERS AND SURPRISING RESULTS!

A few new rules - a few qualifying changes, a few fuel load rule alterations and everyone is in love with Formula One again!

Schumacher made Motorsport history, winning his sixth Grand Prix World Championship! Japan was the setting for a tense, surprising and very eventful finale to the 2003 season. Weather conditions, qualifying conditions, car problems and starting positions all conspired to keep everyone on their toes as Michael secured his sixth world championship while his Ferrari teammate, Rubens Barrichello took top place in the Japanese Grand Prix!

Tension was high in Suzuka as Schumacher had to finish in the points (any of the first eight positions) in order to secure his driver's championship. Kimi Raikkonen and Michael Schumacher battled it out for top position throughout the season, at one time being separated by no more than a point or two. If Kimi Raikkonen had won the race and Schumacher had scored no points, Kimi would have won the 2003 Drivers' Championship. In the season's final standings, the gap between the two drivers was only two points.

Disappointment was clear on Kimi Raikkonen's face as he stood on the podium of the Suzuka Grand Prix in Japan in second position next to Rubens Barrichello. Kimi finished second in Japan and in the 2003 Drivers' World Championship. "When you fail to win in the last race after fighting throughout the season, it is definitely a disappointment", Raikkonen commented.

Ferrari took the constructors' championship again this year. Williams-BMW and McLaren-Mercedes battled for second and third, respectively, and Renault, BAR-Honda, and Sauber-Petronas all made good showings, rounding out the top six. Jaguar-Cosworth came in seventh, ahead of Toyota, Jordan-Ford, and Minardi-Cosworth. With Ford / Cosworth supplying engines for three Grand Prix teams, it has improved its visibility among race fans.

The Japanese Grand Prix - Last Race of the 2003 Season

Juan Pablo Montoyo dominated the early stages of the Japanese Grand Prix until a technical failure forced him to retire. Renault's Fernando Alonso also challenged for the victory before McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen netted second behind Rubens Barrichello.

Jaguar Racing got both their cars to the finish of the final Grand Prix of the year with Mark Webber placing eleventh and Justin Wilson thirteenth. Although the drivers scored no points, the team secured seventh place in the world constructors' championship. Jaguar Racing had its hopes set on fifth place, which was up for grabs, yet, seventh was above the bar it set for itself at the beginning of the season. A two-car finish was a nice way to end the 2003 season for Jaguar. The cars performed well, despite the lack of desired pace.

Justin Wilson confided that it was his best race of the season. He seems pleased with the team noting, "The year has exceeded my expectations and driving for the Jaguar team in the latter half of the year has been a great experience."

Jaguar Racing Drivers

Mark Webber's introduction to Formula One started with a three-day test drive for Benetton at Estoril in 2000. He topped the times of Giancarlo Fisichella and Ralf Schumacher. Benetton, impressed with his performance, gave Webber the role of official test and reserve driver for 2001, a year that also saw him finish runner-up in the 2001 FIA International Formula 3000 Championship for Supernova.

Webber had his sights firmly set on Formula One and his management was successful in negotiating a drive with Paul Stoddart's Minardi Asiatech team for 2002. Webber proved to be the best of the season's four rookie drivers despite his underpowered car.

Webber's Formula One Grand Prix debut was on his home soil in Melbourne, where he finished fifth giving the Italian minnows their first championship points since 1999. In doing so, Mark became only the fourth Australian driver to score world championship points. He comprehensively out-qualified teammates Alex Yoong and Anthony Davidson in every race of the season.

Following Mark Webber's move to Jaguar Racing at the beginning of the 2003 season, Minardi team boss Paul Stoddart found himself with a seat to fill. Australian born Justin Wilson was in need of valuable sponsorship money and, together with his manager, Jonathon Palmer, they came up with the ingenious idea of offering shares in Justin Wilson to the public, raising the necessary capital to secure his drive. Since then, Justin's notable racing skills impressed the Jaguar Racing team enough to secure him a drive for the Milton Keynes based team for the final five races of 2003.

Wilson, at 6'3" is the tallest driver in Formula One. Before joining Jaguar Racing, he was snuck into the factory in the middle of the night to determine if he'd fit into Jaguar Racing's car. Since he was still driving for Minardi at the time (Mindardi had completely rebuild its car to fit Wilson), it was a risky and unusual move, but one that paid off well for Wilson and Jaguar. It remains to be seen if Wilson will drive for Jaguar Racing in 2004.

Mark Webber (left) will be be back in 2004 but no decision yet on Justin Wilson (right)
Photos Jaguar Cars / Richard Price Photography