The Pit Stop Challenge saw 10 finalists, recruited through Channel 10's Sports Tonight and Sydney's Triple M radio competing for a unique opportunity to join Jaguar Racing's pit crew for the Australian Grand Prix.

The winner will be given access to Jaguar Racing's garages for the length of the Australian Grand Prix and experience first hand the adrenalin of race day.

The Pit Stop Challenge started off with the roar of Jaguar's F1 engine as Mark Webber thrilled the crowd as the engine screamed and smoke streamed from the tyres of the Jaguar R4, the car Webber drove in the 2003 F1 season. This action took place in front of the dramatic backdrop of Sydney's beautiful harbour foreshore and the city's iconic Sydney Opera House.

Mark then pulled into the special Pit Stop Arena set up for the event to allow the 10 finalists each to change a tyre on the car +óGé¼GÇ£ they experienced similar pressure faced by the Jaguar pit crew each race. Each finalists used the wheel gun to release the first wheel, removed the old tyre and replace it with a new one, the finalist then had to reattach the wheel, also ensuring the safety bracket was in place before raising their hand indicating it was safe for Webber to return to the track. Two finalists competed simultaneously, racing head to head on either side of the vehicle.

The finalists were competing for a spot with the Jaguar team in the pits at the Australian Grand Prix this weekend (March 4-7).

The winner was 33 year-old Lino Parrattino from Carringbah in Sydney who recorded the fastest time in the final of 6.2 seconds +óGé¼GÇ£ an impressive time given that the professionals do it in around 4 seconds.

He will now head to Melbourne and get to eat, sleep and travel with the crew spending time with each of the different divisions in the garage and see the race from one of the best vantage spots that money just can't buy.

Lino was ecstatic about his win and ready to enjoy the Australian Grand Prix experience and the unique opportunity of spending the time with the Jaguar racing team.

The F1 car's engine, a Cosworth V10 runs at 18,000 rpm and can reach 192 kph in 5.25 seconds.

Webber is the only Australian driver in the elite F1 field and the 2004 season is his second year racing with Jaguar, his third in Formula 1. The 27-year-old Webber now lives in the UK but returns to his hometown of Queanbeyan, New South Wales as much as his busy schedule allows.

Webber hopes that this year the Jaguar team will have the opportunity to move forward and get some points on the board early in the season.

"I would love to see my first podium but I wouldn't be totally distraught if it didn't happen. Basically we need to see good progression and grab more points than we did in 2003," Webber said.

The Pit Stop Challenge is supported by Jaguar Racing sponsors Becks and HSBC.

For further information contact
Amanda Wheeler
Jaguar Australia
Phone: (02) 9020 1413
Mobile: 0412 524 827
Email: awheele9@jaguar.com