Craig Pollock quits BAR

[vat_man]

Interesting development overnight (my time).

Talk is he may be going to Renault to either replace or work with Flavio Briatore - which of course has interesting implications for Villenueve, who is of course Renault's last world champion....

 

[GilesGuthrie]

An interesting theory!

I can't see Pollock working with Flav. Pollock is very PR-aware, which Flav certainly isn't, so perhaps there may be an ousting on the cards at Renault (got halfway through typing Benetton there!). Flav worked well with Tom Walkinshaw, but I don't think they worked together very much, just worked on different aspects of the same team.

Wonder if it's the first step in a Honda buy-in. Rumours have it that Honda are embarrassed that Toyota are doing engines and chassis. Couple this with 2002 being the last year of the BAT deal, and there's an interesting set of drivers (no pun intended) for a change of ownership in that team.

One to watch.

 

[vat_man]

Ooh - far too early in the morning for me to think that far ahead - but the facts fit your theory. There's been no mention of what happens with Pollock's shares in the team.

Honda need something - it's only just come to light now that last year's engine was nothing special, and it's unlike them to wallow around like this (hands up who remembers '89 thinking - they couldn't dominate again like last year, could they?)

 

[GilesGuthrie]

And then there's the persistent rumour that VW have a 900bhp 3L V10 on the bench, and that they've been talking to Jordan...

 

[vat_man]

Originally posted by GilesGuthrie
And then there's the persistent rumour that VW have a 900bhp 3L V10 on the bench, and that they've been talking to Jordan...

Didn't they just announce the group wasn't entering F1?

From a marketing viewpoint you'd think if they were going to put Lamborghini up against Ferrari, F1 would make a lot of sense.

Given the current environment VW are probably reluctant to get involved until the Kirsch/Manufactuers thing plays out.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Originally posted by vat_man


Didn't they just announce the group wasn't entering F1?

From a marketing viewpoint you'd think if they were going to put Lamborghini up against Ferrari, F1 would make a lot of sense.

Given the current environment VW are probably reluctant to get involved until the Kirsch/Manufactuers thing plays out.

1. Yes, but they always say that! It should be in the "Constants of F1" thread (in fact I might see if it is, and if not, put it in!)

2. No, they would put it in as an Audi, where the competition (BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar) has greater relevance to their core markets.

3. Yes, VW are not members of the EMEA, but could probably join. And if Prost goes bust, there will be a vacancy for them to do the whole programme themselves, which is more their style.

 

[vat_man]

But I thought the preferred route for Audi was endurance racing? Or is that what they're doing with Bentley?

I'd be surprised if they took the VW brand GP racing - apart from diesel Golfs at Spa does the brand do any factory racing?

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Originally posted by vat_man
But I thought the preferred route for Audi was endurance racing? Or is that what they're doing with Bentley?

I'd be surprised if they took the VW brand GP racing - apart from diesel Golfs at Spa does the brand do any factory racing?

Well if Audi win at a canter at Le Mans again this year, what's left for them? VW don't do any factry stuff at the moment, although there are persistent rumours surrounding the Bora and a touring car entry. Can't see that one coming off though.

I don't think there's any question of them taking the VW brand racing. It would definitely either be Audi or Lamborghini, and I think that it would be the former if anything.