Craig Pollock
Craig Pollock | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 20, 1956 Falkirk, Scotland |
| Occupation | CEO |
| Employer | Propulsion Universelle et Recuperation d'Energie |
Craig Pollock (born February 20, 1956) is a businessman who was the manager of the Formula One driver Jacques Villeneuve throughout his top-level career, and Founder and team principal of the British American Racing team from 1999 to 2002.
Career
Relationship with Jacques Villeneuve
Pollock worked as a teacher in the late 1970s eventually becoming director of sport at the College Beausoleil in Villars, Switzerland. Here he met a young Jacques Villeneuve who had been sent to the school following the death of his Formula One driver father Gilles. Their shared passion for skiing
After leaving school Villeneuve pursued a career as a racing driver, following in his father's footsteps. The two men were brought back together by a chance meeting at the Suzuka circuit, and Pollock agreed to become Villeneuve's manager. Pollock was representing his employer who owned the rights to the Japanese GP. Villeneuve encouraged Pollock to become his manager and after many visits to Switzerland in his Camaro Pollock agreed and set up Motor Sports Management in Crans pres Celigny. Pollock negotiated a contract with Imperial Tobacco in Montreal assuring Villeneuve 3 years in the States, one year in Formula Atlantic and 2 years in Indy Car with a team built around Villeneuve's needs.
In 1993 Villeneuve raced in American Formula Atlantic before breaking into IndyCar in 1994. After winning a race in his rookie season Villeneuve won the Indy Car championship and prestigious Indianapolis 500 win in 1995. During the 1995 season Pollock made many trips to Europe and especially the UK to negotiate a possible place in F1. Bernie Ecclestone wanted Villeneuve in Ferrari and created a meeting between Pollock and Jean Todt in Italy. Bothe Pollock and Todt agreed that the risk was too high and left on good terms but without the Ferrari seat. Ecclestone was adamant that the only team that Villeneuve couldn't enter was Williams. Pollock negotiated with Frank Williams and signed a contract for a 3 year period from 196 through 1998.
Pollock started working on a Formula One project during the last year of Villeneuve's Indy Car season having discussed the possibility with Adrian Reynard the morning after Villeneuve's first Indy car win at Elkhart lake. Reynard agreed to be a partner if Pollock could find the funding, engine supply and the driver!
Pollock persuaded British American Tobacco to bankroll his ambition as a Team Owner. In 1998 Pollock purchased [[Tyrrell Racing|Tyrrell] to gain entry into F1. He ran Tyrrell in 1998 while building British American Racing (BAR)from a Greenfield site. During the BAR Team announcement Adrian Reynard made claims that Reynard had always obtained pole position in it's first race and won the championship in it's second season and these claims were then attributed to Pollock as the Team Principal. Reynards high hopes proved to be unfounded and BAR finished last in it's first season. The second season saw BAR 4th in the Championship.
Pollock had negotiated the supply agreement with Renault from 2009 through 2001 but managed to convince Honda to give up their own F1 project using his old Tyrrell employees and sign a long term contract with BAR. This brought Honda back into F1 and saved a huge cost to the team.
Pollock negotiated his departure from the team at the end of the 2001 season.
Pollock was asked by Kevin Kalkhoven in November 2002 to find a way for him to enter the Champ Car Series for the 2003 season. He agreed and negotiated the purchase of the defunct Pac West Racing Team. After the first season Pollock agreed to sell his share of the team to Kalkhoven.
Pollock managed Villeneuve through the end of his Formula One career 2008
"Prodrive to join F1 grid in 2008"</ref>
Pollock and Villeneuve ended their business relationship in January 2008.[1]
PURE
In May 2011, Pollock announced his creation of Propulsion Universelle et Recuperation d'Energie (PURE), an engineering company which claimed to produce F1 engines for the 2014 technical regulations.[2] In July 2012, technical director Gilles Simon announced his departure from PURE in a general email sent out to suppliers and colleagues due to the financial difficulties the company was having.[3] Since Gilles Simon's departure PURE's financial trouble has been well publicised throughout the globe.[4][5]
Other business ventures
In 2003, Pollock formed CART team PK Racing, with businessman Kevin Kalkhoven. He remained as co-owner of the team until 2004.
References
- ^ "Jacques Villeneuve parts ways with longtime manager Craig Pollock"[dead link]
- ^ Noble, Jonathan; Strang, Simon (2011-05-04). "Pollock to return to F1 as engine supplier". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 2011-05-05.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-11-02. Retrieved 2013-06-27.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "PURE suspends 2014 engine development after funding issues". Autosport. 2012-07-27. Retrieved 2014-12-03.
- ^ http://www.eurosport.fr/formule-1/saison-2014/2014/le-developpement-du-moteur_sto3364222/story.shtml