Pizzonia promises to make an impression

Antonio Pizzonia - the man who replaced Eddie Irvine - has promised his new bosses at Jaguar he will make an impact in Formula One next season.

The Brazilian rookie will step into the cockpit for the first time since joining the team when the first winter test gets underway in Spain on Tuesday.

But even before he turns a wheel, Pizzonia has predicted he can get among the points for the Milton Keynes-based outfit in 2003.

"I hope we can score some points and I think we can do that," said Pizzonia, whose chances have been boosted by the decision to award points to the top eight finishers next season instead of the top six.

"There is a lot of work to be done here, but I am really happy because I really feel that everybody is working really hard and they are really excited about next season, and the new car looks promising, the new engine looks very promising as well.

"We will have to wait and see when we first drive the car. I can say that I will be working very, very hard to make things happen."

Pizzonia, given the nickname 'Jungle Boy' because he hails from the Amazon forest region of Brazil, will form an all-new driver pairing in 2003 with Australia's Mark Webber.

The duo replace Ireland's Eddie Irvine and Brazil's Pedro de la Rosa, whose fractious relationship Pizzonia believes did not help the team last season when they managed just eight points.

"I am trying to prove what I can do, and Mark is probably in the same situation, so we are definitely going to be pushing each other quite a lot," added the former Williams test driver. "But we also have to work together to build up the team.

"At the track we are going to be racing each other all the time, but when we are not on the track we really have to work together and not let happen what happened this year between Eddie Irvine and Pedro de la Rosa, because it is not good for the team."

Pizzonia and Webber will both take part in the three-test day at the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona as Formula One returns to action for the first time since last month's season finale in Japan.

Fellow rookie Cristiano da Matta will also conduct his first test since joining Toyota after romping to the CART title.

The Brazilian will be joined by Frenchman Olivier Panis, who moved to Toyota after losing his place at British American Racing to Jenson Button.

BAR will also be in Barcelona with Britain's Anthony Davidson conducting testing duties alongside Ferrari.

Most of the other teams will be further down the Spanish coast in Valencia, including Williams and McLaren who will both be hoping to find the extra speed to mount a bigger challenge to Ferrari in 2003.