Villeneuve's move from Williams to BAR confirmed

   Copyright c 1998 Nando Media
   Copyright c 1998 Reuters

LONDON (Jul 23, 1998 - 10:40 EDT) - World champion Jacques Villeneuve will
drive for British American Racing next season, the new Formula One team
confirmed on Thursday.

The Canadian, currently with Williams, will be joining close friend Craig
Pollock, managing director of BAR.

"We are very pleased to have Jacques join us," Pollock said.

"His presence in our team will go a long way towards our goal of being
competitive in the shortest time possible."

Villeneuve goes into Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix without a podium finish
this season and having qualified in the top three just once.

He believes his new team can be competitive next year.

"Most importantly, I am very happy to be back with Craig, Adrian
(Reynard) and Rick (Gorne) on what is shaping up to be the team of the
future," Villeneuve said. "We all share the same philosophy of
racing."

Williams team boss Frank Williams said it had been "a great
pleasure" to work with Villeneuve.

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