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{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
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| name = Craig Pollock
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| nationality =Swiss & British
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| occupation =
| occupation = Head of engineering
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| employer = [[Propulsion Universelle et Recuperation d'Energie]]
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}}
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'''Craig Pollock''' (born February 20, 1956) is a businessman from the sports industry. Previously the manager of [[Formula One]] driver [[Jacques Villeneuve]] throughout his top-level career. Additionally, the Founder, CEO and Team Principal of the F1 team [[British American Racing]] from {{F1|1999}} to {{F1|2002}}.
'''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 team principal of the [[British American Racing]] team from {{F1|1999}} to {{F1|2002}}. He is currently the head of engineering company [[Propulsion Universelle et Recuperation d'Energie]] (PURE).


==Career==
==Career==
===Relationship with Jacques Villeneuve===
Pollock worked as a teacher in the late 1970s eventually becoming director of sport at the [[Collège Alpin International Beau Soleil|College Beausoleil]] in [[Villars-sur-Ollon|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 Villeneuve|Gilles]]. Their shared passion for [[skiing]]
Pollock worked as a [[teacher]] in the late 1970s eventually becoming director of sport at the [[Collège Alpin International Beau Soleil|College Beausoleil]] in [[Villars-sur-Ollon|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 Villeneuve|Gilles]]. Their shared passion for [[skiing]] allowed them to become friends before Pollock moved on to set up his own business.


After leaving school Villeneuve pursued a career as a [[racing driver]], following in his father's footsteps. The two gentlemen were brought back together by a chance meeting at the [[Suzuka Circuit|Suzuka]] circuit, after which Pollock agreed to become Villeneuve's manager. Pollock was representing his employer, the rights owner of the Japanese Grand Prix. Villeneuve persuaded 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 United States, one year in Formula Atlantic and 2 years in Indy Car with a team built around Villeneuve's needs.
After leaving school Villeneuve pursued a career as a [[racing driver]], following in his father's footsteps, and eventually moved to [[Japan]]. The two men were brought back together by a chance meeting at the [[Suzuka Circuit|Suzuka]] circuit, and Pollock agreed to become Villeneuve's manager.


In 1993 Villeneuve raced in [[United States|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, 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. Both 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.
In 1993 Villeneuve raced in [[United States|American]] [[Formula Atlantic]] before breaking into [[Champ car|IndyCars]] in 1994. After winning a race in his rookie season Villeneuve took the [[Champ Car|CART]] championship and prestigious [[Indianapolis 500]] win in 1995. The following year Villeneuve relocated to [[Europe]], joining [[Williams F1|Williams Grand Prix]] and bringing Pollock into [[Formula One]].


Riding on the back of Villeneuve's [[1997 Formula One season|1997]] Formula One title, Pollock persuaded [[British American Tobacco]] to bankroll his ambition of becoming a team manager. In 1998 Pollock purchased [[Tyrrell Racing|Tyrrell]], renaming it [[British American Racing]] (BAR), and signed his close friend and driver to be team leader. Immediately a controversial figure, Pollock made numerous claims about how successful his team would be. His high hopes proved to be unfounded however with a disastrous debut in 1999.
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 but only if Pollock could find the funding, engine supply and the driver!


Results continued to be poor and by 2001 [[British American Tobacco]] had lost patience. Pollock was replaced as team principal by [[David Richards (racing)|David Richards]], although he remained a [[shareholder]] until the partial [[Honda]] buyout in 2004.
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 its first race and won the championship in its second season and these claims were then attributed to Pollock as the Team Principal. Reynard's high hopes proved to be unfounded and BAR finished last in its first season. The second season saw BAR 4th in the Championship.


Pollock managed Villeneuve through the end of his Formula One career, and he made an application to motorsport governing body the [[FIA]] to enter a Formula One team for [[2008 Formula One season|2008]]. The proposed team was one of many rejected in favour of David Richard's [[Prodrive F1|Prodrive]] entry.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/4953694.stm "Prodrive to join F1 grid in 2008"]</ref>
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 and Villeneuve ended their business relationship in January 2008.<ref>[http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5j62hnC9UEAKJlZIdHOdDqeiCAhOw "Jacques Villeneuve parts ways with longtime manager Craig Pollock"]{{dead link|date=November 2012|bot=Legobot}}</ref>
Pollock negotiated his departure from the team at the end of the 2001 season and remained a shareholder until BASR Honda was sold by BAT to Honda. BAR F1 was the structure of today's multiple Championship winning Mercedes F1 Team.


===PURE===
Pollock was asked by Kevin Kalkhoven (in November 2002) to find a way to enter the Champ Car Series for the 2003 season with a joint venture team PK Racing Inc (pollock Kalkhoven Racing inc). 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.
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 {{F1|2014}} technical regulations.<ref>{{cite news|last=Noble|first=Jonathan|author2=Strang, Simon|title=Pollock to return to F1 as engine supplier|publisher=[[Haymarket Group|Haymarket Publications]]|work=autosport.com|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/91107|date=2011-05-04|accessdate=2011-05-05}}</ref> In July 2012, technical director [[Gilles Simon (Formula One)|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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fan-f1.com/f1/2012/actualite/13742-F1-PURE-va-etre-forcee-de-suspendre-son-activite.html |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2013-06-27 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102215539/http://www.fan-f1.com/f1/2012/actualite/13742-F1-PURE-va-etre-forcee-de-suspendre-son-activite.html |archivedate=2013-11-02 |df= }}</ref> Since Gilles Simon's departure PURE's financial trouble has been well publicised throughout the globe.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/101562 |title= PURE suspends 2014 engine development after funding issues| work=Autosport | date=2012-07-27 |accessdate=2014-12-03}}</ref><ref>http://www.eurosport.fr/formule-1/saison-2014/2014/le-developpement-du-moteur_sto3364222/story.shtml</ref>


===Other business ventures===
Pollock managed Villeneuve through the end of his Formula One career in 2008, when they ended their business relationship.<ref>
In 2003, Pollock formed [[Champ Car|CART]] team [[PKV Racing|PK Racing]], with businessman [[Kevin Kalkhoven]]. He remained as co-owner of the team until 2004.

In May 2011, Pollock announced the creation of his new business: [[Propulsion Universal et Recuperation d'Energie]] (PURE SA), an engineering company setup to design and produce F1 hybrid Power Units for the {{F1|2014}} technical regulations.

This new project was meant to be funded through Pollock and CVC Capital, supported by Bernie Ecclestone. Pollock ended up fully funding the project through the full design stage but could not carry on to industrialisation. There are currently 2 designs the first straight 4 cylinder and the V6.

Pollock carried on looking for investors or the right project for industrialisation.


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 18:39, 15 May 2019

Craig Pollock
Born (1956-02-20) February 20, 1956 (age 68)
Falkirk, Scotland
OccupationHead of engineering
EmployerPropulsion 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 team principal of the British American Racing team from 1999 to 2002. He is currently the head of engineering company Propulsion Universelle et Recuperation d'Energie (PURE).

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 allowed them to become friends before Pollock moved on to set up his own business.

After leaving school Villeneuve pursued a career as a racing driver, following in his father's footsteps, and eventually moved to Japan. The two men were brought back together by a chance meeting at the Suzuka circuit, and Pollock agreed to become Villeneuve's manager.

In 1993 Villeneuve raced in American Formula Atlantic before breaking into IndyCars in 1994. After winning a race in his rookie season Villeneuve took the CART championship and prestigious Indianapolis 500 win in 1995. The following year Villeneuve relocated to Europe, joining Williams Grand Prix and bringing Pollock into Formula One.

Riding on the back of Villeneuve's 1997 Formula One title, Pollock persuaded British American Tobacco to bankroll his ambition of becoming a team manager. In 1998 Pollock purchased Tyrrell, renaming it British American Racing (BAR), and signed his close friend and driver to be team leader. Immediately a controversial figure, Pollock made numerous claims about how successful his team would be. His high hopes proved to be unfounded however with a disastrous debut in 1999.

Results continued to be poor and by 2001 British American Tobacco had lost patience. Pollock was replaced as team principal by David Richards, although he remained a shareholder until the partial Honda buyout in 2004.

Pollock managed Villeneuve through the end of his Formula One career, and he made an application to motorsport governing body the FIA to enter a Formula One team for 2008. The proposed team was one of many rejected in favour of David Richard's Prodrive entry.[1]

Pollock and Villeneuve ended their business relationship in January 2008.[2]

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.[3] 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.[4] Since Gilles Simon's departure PURE's financial trouble has been well publicised throughout the globe.[5][6]

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

  1. ^ "Prodrive to join F1 grid in 2008"
  2. ^ "Jacques Villeneuve parts ways with longtime manager Craig Pollock"[dead link]
  3. ^ Noble, Jonathan; Strang, Simon (2011-05-04). "Pollock to return to F1 as engine supplier". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 2011-05-05.
  4. ^ "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)
  5. ^ "PURE suspends 2014 engine development after funding issues". Autosport. 2012-07-27. Retrieved 2014-12-03.
  6. ^ http://www.eurosport.fr/formule-1/saison-2014/2014/le-developpement-du-moteur_sto3364222/story.shtml
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