SEPTEMBER 8, 1997
BAT changes direction
AFTER months of talk about a new Formula 1 super team involving Adrian Reynard, Craig Pollock and British American Tobacco, it seems that BAT has decided to look at other possibilities.
There is no doubt that BAT as a company remains committed to entering F1 - to promote its cigarette brands around the world - but has reconsidered how best this can be achieved and has realized that trying to create a new team is simply too complicated and expensive and will take too long to be competitive. Buying into an existing team - even if that means that BAT cannot be the major shareholder - is a better option.
The planned launch of the program at the Luxembourg Grand Prix is thus unlikely to take place and it may be some months before a deal is finally put together.