BAR to be 'Lucky Strike Honda Racing' in 2003?

Yesterday's announcement that Honda will supply the British American Racing concern on a sole supply basis next year was accompanied by rumours of what BAR is to be called next year.

Honda, having terminated their supply to Jordan a year early, will only supply BAR next year and team boss David Richards has been known to think that the current name of British American Racing lacks prestige and status.

The name came about as the team is funded by British American Tobacco. The idea on their entry in to Formula One in 1999 was to establish a brand that would develop its own identity and image. The identity was meant to flourish and could continue when the ban on tobacco advertising kicks in. Despite having a big budget presence in Formula One, and former world champion Jacques Villeneuve at the helm of their cars, the image of the team and status of the name has not developed to the great things expected.

Rumours in the Hungarian paddock were that the team is to be called Lucky Strike Honda Racing, giving the focus to BAT's Lucky Strike brand of cigarettes. It is thought that the announcement of name change will be made at the new car launch in December.

As a good precedent for the name change, the names of tobacco funded teams have long been strong in Formula One with such historic teams as Gold Leaf Team Lotus, with their red and gold livery, the beautiful black and gold John Players Special Lotus of the late seventies and early eighties and the red and white Marlboro McLaren cars which ran from the 1970s until 1996 and Marlboro's departure to Ferrari as their title team.

British American Racing brought about its entry into Formula One by purchasing the Tyrrell team. Though there has been some speculation that David Richards might resurrect a name from the past it is not thought that this will be the case.