Villeneuve, Salo In Call To Bar
Jacques Villeneuve and Mika Salo look set to line up for the fledgling BAR team in 1999, with former Sauber pilot Jean-Christophe Bouillion as test driver.
Villeneuve, the reigning world champion, has long been linked to the new team, due in main to his association with its boss Craig Pollock. The Scot was Villeneuve's manager for many years before becoming involved in the buy-out which will turn Tyrrell into BAR next season.
Jacques Villeneuve and Mika Salo look set to line up for the fledgling BAR team in 1999, with former Sauber pilot Jean-Christophe Bouillion as test driver.
Villeneuve, the reigning world champion, has long been linked to the new team, due in main to his association with its boss Craig Pollock. The Scot was Villeneuve's manager for many years before becoming involved in the buy-out which will turn Tyrrell into BAR next season.
BAR is expected to secure the Canadian's signature by the beginning of August, after Villeneuve was given a deadline by current employer Frank Williams, and is expected to target Arrows driver Salo as his team-mate after approaches to two Champcar drivers floundered. Both Adrian Fernandez and Jimmy Vasser were connected to the team, but appear more likely to stay with the American series next season. Salo has another year of his Arrows contract to run, but could be freed up by the team's desire to secure Mecachrome engines for 1999.
Bouillion, meanwhile, looks set to be named as BAR's first test driver, following talks at Silverstone last weekend. The Frenchman is a member of Pollock's Stellar Management stable and has extensive knowledge of the Mecachrome engine BAR will use next season having tested with Williams since 1995.
