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'Audition' for
Villeneuve
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2003.09.16
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Bar team boss
suggests competition. Richards looking at televised drive-off
pitting Canadian driver against youngsters.
Canadian Jacques Villeneuve scoffed at
the idea of a possible televised competition against a group of
young drivers for a seat at British American Racing.
British newspapers quoted BAR team boss
David Richards as saying he might approach Villeneuve with the idea
to determine who would be Briton Jenson Button's teammate next
season in Formula One.
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Villeneuve's contract
expires at the end of the season.
"Formula One is
supposed to be a sport," Villeneuve told Britain's Press
Association.
Button's girlfriend,
Louise Griffiths, recently participated in Fame Academy, a British
reality TV show in which aspiring singers are voted out by an
audience. That sparked Richards's interest.
"Her involvement
certainly intrigued the whole team, and it is an interesting way of
finding out who can perform," Richards was quoted as saying in The
Express. "We're talking about something more technical and
detailed, but it is an intriguing idea.
"My job is to find
the fastest and best driver for BAR-Honda. It is not just a gimmick.
There are a range of options open to us, and it is an exciting idea
if we can make it work."
In its headline, The
Times said: Villeneuve suffers indignity of televised
'audition.'
Villeneuve, from
Iberville, won the F1 title in 1997 with Williams, but has struggled
since joining BAR - despite his lucrative contract. He hasn't won a
race and is only 14th in the drivers' standings this season.
"I have never
worked so hard in my life," Villeneuve said. "If my
attitude is a problem, then there is no attitude change that could
convince David."
Villeneuve admitted
after last weekend's Italian Grand Prix in Monza that his future at
BAR is under pressure because Honda wants to replace him with
Japanese driver Takuma Sato.
There has been no other
interest from other teams in the Canadian driver.
If a winter driving
competition is held for the seat at BAR, the Daily Telegraph
said it would likely take place at a new track in Bahrain to help
publicize the circuit before it holds its first Grand Prix next
spring.
The paper says a global
pool of drivers, including Sato, would be selected to compete to
maximize its potential television audience around the world.
The competition would
also give Villeneuve, who reportedly is also in trouble with
BAR-Honda because he dislikes taking part in publicity events, a
chance to show that he is willing to play a greater role in
promotion.
"Jacques has got to
change his attitude," Richards said. "We have all told him
it will take significant changes to convince us that he is the
driver we need in our team."
Villeneuve is reported
to be earning $32.7 million Canadian this season, second only to
champion Michael Schumacher. Richards has said Villeneuve's wages
account for one-quarter of the team's development budget.
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