Jacques Hits Back At Bridgestone.

Despite British American Racing's impressive testing performance at Barcelona, lead driver Jacques Villeneuve has joined the growing list of drivers unhappy with the latest Bridgestone rubber.


The Canadian recorded the third best time of day three of the test, following a couple of days off the pace, but hit out at the four-groove front tyres introduced by the Japanese manufacturer for 1999. (I just do not understand,) stormed Villeneuve during the test, (A Formula One car is a technical beast with electronics, aerodynamics and everything else but, in addition, we have tyres which are so hard they could be made from wood. That makes absolutely no sense.)


Jacques was happier with the performance of his new mount, however, despite completing only a handful of laps on the opening day, and suffering various teething troubles throughout the test. The first two days were marred by a series of problems, including the loss of an engine cover and rear wing, and a selection of electronic and transmission gremlins, but the car came good to lap just a second off the pace on day three.


In addition to praising the new chassis' performance, Villeneuve also expressed his liking for the car's colour scheme. The team ran the BAR 001 in its corporate colours of blue, silver and yellow, leaving others to guess at the final sponsorship livery, but Jacques was quite taken with the paintjob. (Isn't it beautiful? Blue, black, grey and yellow are better than red,) he remarked - tongue-in-cheek - at the test.


The car will be formally launched to the press at BAR's new Brackley facility on Wednesday 6 January 1999.