Ricardo Zonta with BAR

(26-Oct-98) - Ricardo Zonta had made an official statement yesterday that
he will enter Formula One by becoming the team mate of Jacques Villeneuve
next season at British American Racing.

The 22-year-old Brazilian has signed a contract for one year with the new
team with an option for another year. The announcement came after he won
the FIA GT Championship for Mercedes at Laguna Seca together with his
49-year-old co-driver who drove his last race as a professional driver.

The rookie sportscar driver has his roots in the open formula cars and was
Brazilian Formula 3 champion in 1995 and International Formula 3000
champion in 1997. In this year with Mercedes he proved to be a very fast
driver in qualifying beating experienced drivers like Allan McNish, Klaus
Ludwig and Bernd Schneider. He also outrun David Coulthard during a McLaren
Formula One test at Magny Cours.

Zonta will make it's first appearance in a BAR car during tests in December.

--- Msged/386 4.20 beta 4