New Formula One factory ready to roll

   Copyright c 1998 Nando Media
   Copyright c 1998 Agence France-Presse

BRACKLEY, England (Jul 8, 1998 - 15:45 EDT) - The new British American
Racing Formula One team formally completed Wednesday what it claimed is the
"most technologically advanced racing factory in the world" to
produce cars that could be driven by Jacques Villeneuve or Damon Hill.

Managing director Craig Pollock ceremonially tightened the last bolt on the
building, alongside the headquarters of partners Reynard Racing Cars in
Britain's motor racing Silicon Valley near Silverstone, the site of this
weekend's British Grand Prix.

Pollock said it was the first in a series of events in coming months that
would culminate in the naming of the team's drivers for its debut 1999
season, and the unveiling of its first all-new car.

Answering questions, Pollock mentioned world champion Jacques Villeneuve,
whom he manages, former champion Damon Hill and US CART star Alex Zanardi
among drivers he would like to sign.

The first step, he said, would be to try to complete a contract this
weekend with a test driver who will start working with an interim car in
September. He would not hint as the driver he was seeking.

Partner Adrian Reynard said the new factory would become operational at the
end of October, with a state-of-the-art wind tunnel being built over the
next six months.

"Ever since we launched the new team last December, British American
Racing has only appeared on paper to the general public," Pollock
said.

"Now, construction is on schedule on our new headquarters, the most
technologically advanced racing factory in the world. Some 80 persons
already are working in our offices here," he said.

Pollock said he had North American and European racing drivers on his
shortlist for 1999.

He said he would love to sign Villeneuve, but that currently the Williams
team wanted to keep him.

"Any experienced Formula One driver, especially a world champion,
would be taking a huge risk coming to a new team.

"But I could look him (Villeneuve) or Damon Hill in the eye and say we
could provide you with a package you could build up," Pollock said.

Zanardi, he said, had "matured tremendously" driving in the US
CART series, and that he was "looking at drivers at that level."

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