JANUARY 26, 2001
Pollock aims high at British American racing launch
BRITISH AMERICAN RACING managing director Craig Pollock has urged his team to aim for third place in this season's manufacturers' championship.
Speaking at BAR's launch of their new 003 car in London on Friday, Pollock said the 2001 challenger must improve if his team is to challenge the likes of Ferrari and McLaren.
"Last year was a big improvement in our debut season," said Pollock. "But I'm still not happy finishing fifth in the constructors' championship. Our aim in 2001 has to be at least a third place finish overall and to win some races.
"With the team and infrastructure we now have in place, that is achievable and that is what I want.
"Last year no single facet of our car was really good or really bad, but in order to compete with the likes of Ferrari and McLaren we must insure that every aspect excels. In the BAR003 we feel we have the car that can fulfil our high expectations."
BAR pulled the wraps off their new challenger, which was in fact last year's car after Jacques Villeneuve crashed the 003 in testing last week, and presented drivers Villeneuve and Olivier Panis, test-drivers Darren Manning and Patrick Lemarie, and development drivers Anthony Davidson and Takuma Sato to the media.
Engine suppliers Honda also unveiled their new power-unit for BAR - the RA001E three-liter V10.
"The new engine may look the same from the outside, but we have improved the unit in almost every area," said Honda technical director Kazutoshi Nishizawa. "We have investigated and addressed the issues from last season and the result is a superior unit."