The revamped BAR that saved Button's career
After several years of underachievement, the BAR Formula 1 project was in danger of floundering when David Richards arrived to steady the ship in 2002. Two years later, the team was the closest challenger to Ferrari and gave a shot in the arm to Jenson Button's career
The birth of the British American Racing team - or BAR - in 1999 was hardly a conventional one. Formed from British American Tobacco's purchase of the ailing Tyrrell team's assets, having been persuaded to do so by Jacques Villeneuve's manager and former ski-instructor Craig Pollock, the team's formative years were hardly blessed with success.
Towards the end of its seven-year tenure, however, BAR had been purchased by Honda and was a consistent threat for points and podiums. A crucial factor in that swing in form was a key managerial change, made after three years of failing to deliver on lofty expectations - including Adrian Reynard's promise that the team would win its first race.
Share Or Save This Story
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.