BAR Enjoy Points Boost on Home Soil

British American Racing have travelled the world in search of points finishes this season but they ended the hunt in Sunday's British Grand Prix - held just ten miles from their factory.

The Brackley-based outfit were the only team not to have scored a point this season but enjoyed double success in their home race at Silverstone as Canadian Jacques Villeneuve came home fourth and teammate Frenchman Olivier Panis claimed fifth place.

BAR got their tactics right in the changing conditions thanks to advice from a helicopter spotter over the Northamptonshire circuit as they moved off the foot of the manufacturers' standings.

"Jacques and Olivier did a great, great drive and the tactics all went according to plan," said team boss David Richards. "To do it in front of your home crowd helps you a lot. Our factory is only round the corner and most of the people in the team live within 20 kilometres.

"For the people behind the scenes it was their home Grand Prix in front of all their families who were watching today it is very important for everybody. We are all going to enjoy it."

Richards hailed the significance of the team's helicopter spotter who provided advice on the weather to allow the Honda-powered cars to get their tactics right in the wet conditions.

"We had a helicopter in the sky to tell us the weather conditions and we got it exactly right," Richards added.

"The poor old helicopter pilot went back to the factory and was sitting on the ground watching the final laps but he got it perfectly right for us when the weather was coming. He did us proud."

But Richards insisted that more hard work lies ahead for the team as they look to challenge for major honours in the sport after four years at the wrong end of the grid.

"In England we say one swallow does not make a summer and this is one step on the bottom rung of a tall ladder," he added. "Everybody expect points all the time and we haven't delivered it.

"But now we have done and they can work on the confidence knowing that if we keep on the same pace and keep working as hard as we do results will come for us.

"Morale has been fantastic within the team throughout the season. They are an incredible group of people. If you look at what's gone on for the last couple of years it is absolutely phenomenal."