Having scored Jaguar’s first and only podium there last year, Irishman Eddie Irvine is approaching this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix confident and enthusiastic about his chances.

The 36-year-old has had little to celebrate this year aside from his fortunate but glorious fourth place at the opening race in Australia. The aerodynamic package of the Jaguar has not been conducive to good results this year and overall he and team-mate Pedro de la Rosa have been languishing at the back of the field while Jaguar’s reformed aero team works on revisions that are likely to be introduced in July.

But at the tight and twisty Monaco, the aerodynamic flaws of the car will not be exposed. Last year, when the team was having similar problems with its package, Irvine qualified fifth before going on to take an excellent third place behind the Ferraris.

And the former winner, whilst keeping his predictions in check, feels that he take a strong result in 2002.

‘Monaco is fantastic. I love it both on the track and off,’ he enthused.

‘I qualified fifth last year and gave Jaguar its first ever podium in Formula One. Being on the podium alongside two Ferraris is what Jaguar is all about and while the chances of repeating it this year are much tougher, you can’t help going into this weekend with slightly more optimism than other races.

‘There are so many variables that ultimately dictate the finishing order and unless you fall off completely, you can never rule anything out at Monaco.’

Irvine stressed that qualifying in a decent position was crucial given the difficulty of overtaking, but with the race normally containing incidents, those outside the top six are always in with a chance.

‘Qualifying here is the key to the race and failing that, making it to the end can sometimes reap reward – something we have seen many times at Monaco, particularly when it rains, as Rubens Barrichello proved in the 1999 Stewart-Ford by qualifying tenth place and finishing in second,’ Irvine said.

‘The race is full of action and no more so than at the top of the hill through Casino Square, making it my favourite corner. Climbing up the field here can be very tricky and you rely on the attrition of others to help you out.’

Unlike Irvine, Pedro de la Rosa is not particularly enthusiastic about the event given his troubled past at the Principality.

‘I go to Monaco expecting nothing,’ said the Spaniard. ‘I have bad memories here due to my four consecutive crashes. The start can be the most difficult as we witnessed in 1980 when nearly half the field was eliminated at Sainte Devote.

‘The Tabac and the Rascasse both remind me of my incidents – these corners are much tougher than they look. The circuit layout provides me with reference points as I drive round, traffic lights, houses, people and you realise your speed.

‘Although it’s not a fast track there are some high-speed areas, the straight up the hill towards Casino Square and the Tunnel the fastest. This combined with the slow corners of the Grand and the Chicane make the entire race demanding both physically and mentally.

‘With all the support races that take place over the weekend, one could be forgiven for thinking that enough rubber would be laid down by the time the race starts, but it’s never enough! Mechanical grip is crucial to getting around the circuit with a good lap time and while everyone arrives in Monaco chasing points, my priority is simply to finish what has to be the most tiring and unpredictable races of the season.’