JUNE 30, 1997

Boullion for Sauber?

WILLIAMS test driver Jean-Christophe Boullion is likely to be driving for Sauber at the British Grand Prix, standing in for the injured Gianni Morbidelli. At the French GP Sauber decided to use its test driver Norberto Fontana, but the young Argentine driver did not impress team bosses. At one point he turned off the engine of his car and said it was undriveable - only to be told to get back out on to the race track.

Our sources say that Fontana will be replaced by Boullion who was mentioned in connection with the drive before Magny-Cours. JCB raced for the Swiss team in 1994 and was one of the candidates to be Johnny Herbert's team mate last winter. He was also the leading candidate to stand in for the injured Morbidelli until Peter Sauber decided that the team should give its test driver a chance.

Although it was not widely reported this was a double blow for Boullion who was also the favorite to drive for Prost. Alain wanted to run JCB as Olivier Panis's replacement because he had many miles of testing experience this year and was a Frenchman. The Williams team was happy to let Bouillon have a go but we understand that Rothmans did not want its French driver to switch to Gauloises at the French GP.