Jacques Backs Pollock As Axe Hovers.

Jacques Villeneuve has re-stated his threat to quit British American Racing, as rumours insist that team boss Craig Pollock again faces the sack.


Villeneuve said as long ago as September that he would not stay with the team if his former manager was forced out, and re-iterated his claim yesterday after vice-chairman Adrian Reynard hinted that changes would be made. The Canadian maintains that Pollock's presence, and the desire to have an influence at the team's birth, were the sole reasons for his joining BAR in its first season, and he would have no second thoughts about leaving if he thought it necessary.


Reynard is due to put his restructuring proposal to chief sponsor British American Tobacco (BAT) later this week, with a view to holding talks about the team's future at the beginning of December. The constructor's main suggestion is that he take the place of Pollock at the head of the outfit, with long-time partners Rick Gorne and Robert Synge stepping into his operational role.


"We're obviously very unhappy about the results this year," Reynard told the Globe and Mail newspaper, "and it's clear that we need to make some changes in the company.


"It's obvious that other people are doing things a lot better than we are and, until we can match them on a man-to-man basis - no matter what engine saviour we have - it's still going to be a problem for us. I think the shareholders need to consider changes throughout the company from top-to-bottom, so that we can change the out-performance simply to satisfy Honda that we are a credible team.


If paddock rumour is to believed, Reynard would not exactly miss Villeneuve either, should he decide to quit the team, as the pair have hardly seen eye-to-eye during their time together. The Canadian criticised what he saw as a part-time role for Reynard who, he alleged, hardly attended any tests or races, while Reynard hit back by saying that he had other commitments to combine with the running of BAR. The latter may miss the investment provided by both Pollock and Villeneuve, however, as they own a 20 per cent shareholding in the team.


Pollock, meanwhile, continues to believe that his position within the team is secure, claiming that speculation over his future is nothing more than malicious rumour.


"I am absolutely comfortable with my position," he insisted, "but I strongly believe there is never smoke without fire. Somebody in our organisation is fuelling the fire because it serves him to do that. It's not my problem."