Ferrari Designer Byrne Steps Back
The man responsible for designing Ferrari’s championship winning car the past six years says his fingerprints will not be as noticeable on the new car. Rory Byrne, who has two years remaining on his contract with Ferrari, says the team plans to start the 2005 season with an interim version of the new car, which is being managed by his likely successor, Aldo Costa.
“Costa has been my right arm for many years - I trust him very much,” Byrne tells the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport. “When the time comes for my retirement, he will have to be in charge of the entire system.”
Byrne has been with Ferrari since leaving Benetton at the end of 1996. He, alongwith Jean Todt and Ross Brawn have been the braintrust at Maranello, guiding Ferrari back to the top of the Formula One ladder. Byrne says the F2005 will not be ready until the end of February and likely won’t make its debut until the F1 season is three to five races old.
“We could already have it for the first race of 2005, but we are not in a hurry as we want to deepen research and design so that the car can be close to perfect on its debut,” said Byrne.
Ferrari plan to test some of the new parts at this week’s test in Jerez, Spain and at the team’s test track in Fiorano. Byrne says an interim version of the F2004 will be on the starting grid in Australia. The car will include an updated engine and monocoque but will utilize the gearbox used in last year’s car. However, Byrne says the new car will be different “in the evolutionary sense” with some changes clearly recognizable by looking at car.
As for whether or not the new car will continue to dominate the sport like its predacessors, Byrne says that will depend on the progress made by the other teams.
“Competitiveness is relative. I was surprised to see in the first race in Melbourne [last year], how the others made minimal progress… so the new car will be another big step forward, but its level of success will depend on our rivals.”
Rival Toyota confirmed over the weekend that they plan to have their 2005 challenger on the track by the new year.
“The TF105 should be ready before Christmas,” said technical director Mike Gascoyne. “That means we will be able to run it as soon as the Christmas and new year test ban has been lifted in January.”
Source: TSN
