Geoff Willis is to be replaced at grands prix by former Sauber man Jacky Eeckelaert, who joined Honda late last year.
As previously reported, technical director Willis, as a response probably from Japan to the team’s dwindling form, is being left at the Brackley factory for the time being to work in the new wind tunnel.
Team CEO Nick Fry, who admits that development of the RA106 car has lagged behind its rivals so far in 2006, said: ”I want him to focus on the aerodynamics of the car.
”Geoff won’t be at as many races in the next few months.”
It has emerged that Belgium’s Eeckelaert, who joined Sauber in 1999 after stints with Jordan and Prost, is to slip into Willis’ duties while the Englishman is back at base.
He was spotted for the first time at Silverstone, and will be making the trip across the Atlantic for the Canadian and US events.
Fry said at Silverstone, where Jenson Button qualified among the backmarkers: ”I think we started the year with a fundamentally good car but our rate of development has not been good enough.” gmmf1dailyf1news.com
