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[narain fan]

Williams co-owner Patrick Head is confident Williams will be able to return to its winning ways in 2006.

The British team does not have a factory engine programme this year after parting ways with BMW, and few in the paddock expect it to be able to beat the manufacturer outfits on merit.

But, speaking at the launch of the FW28 at the team’s factory in Grove, Head set his sights high for the year ahead and said he “would be disappointed if we’re not right there”.

He said: “Obviously some of the manufacturer-resourced teams will have more resource than us and a number of those teams have got drivers with more experience and race wins under their belt than the combination of Mark and Nico.

“But I am not convinced that those drivers will be quicker than Mark.

“It is a bit of a cliché, but certainly we don't think the Bridgestone tyres will be a limitation and we don't think the Cosworth engine will be a limitation and therefore if we are not right up and among those manufacturers it will be either drivers or the car.

“I think the drivers are pretty good so it is down to whether the car is good.

“I would be disappointed if we were not right there but our target is to be in front of all the manufacturers, but we will have to see.”

Head’s optimism is based on his judgement that the Cosworth V8 engine and Bridgestone tyres will stand comparison with anything rival teams can boast.

And although the ultimate quality of the chassis remains a question mark, Head said the results from wind tunnel testing have been encouraging.

“We have certainly had many more wind tunnel iterations, many more effective hours in the wind tunnel, running both wind tunnels,” he said.

“We have been up and running and involved in the development of the car so we have every reason to be a lot more confident than last year.”

While he added the cautionary note that the team’s competitive position won’t become clear once the season is underway, Head stated, “I am optimistic about the 2006 season”.



itv-f1.com

[pumpdoc]

moved

[Redline]

Head used to be a major force in F1.

But these days his only claim to fame, IMHO, is that he looks like Jimmy from South Park.

It really is time he hung up his headset (Headheadset?) and stopped fantasizing that Williams are going anywhere......that possibility began to decay when Adrian Newey left and Ayrton Senna died. They won anything after that on Neweys lingering influence and Schumi's move to a very poorly Ferrari.



Edited because I was fantasising.

Edited by Redline, 28 January 2006 - 06:43 AM.