Thursday April 13th, 2000

Paul Stewart, son of former world champion Jackie Stewart, has cancer of the colon and will step down as chief operating officer of the Jaguar motor racing team.

Jackie Stewart said in a statement on Thursday his son's cancer was treatable and Paul was undergoing chemotherapy at a clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. This treatment is to continue for some months on a periodic basis.

Paul Stewart, 34, will review the situation with Jaguar Racing's parent, the Ford motor company, when his treatment has been completed.

Jackie Stewart, an executive director with the team, said: "Paul's recovery is the single most important thing in the life of the Stewart family.

"He is in the best possible hands at the Mayo Clinic (in Rochester). His mother and I, as well as his brother Mark, and Paul's wife Victoria, have complete confidence in his doctors and they are optimistic that Paul will, through treatment, be able to overcome this illness and continue to live life to the full."

Paul Stewart, a former racing driver, was a winner in Formula Ford 2000 and in Formula 3 before deciding in 1994 to concentrate on team management.

Two years later he and his father created Stewart Grand Prix, the first Formula One team to drive race cars designed with a total computer-aided design capability.

Ford bought the Stewart team last season and rebranded it for the 2000 season as Jaguar.

Jackie Stewart stepped down as chairman of the team in January when debutants Jaguar unveiled their new car.