BAR reshuffles its technical team

Savage's day-to-day role is to take responsibility for implementing and co-ordinating the design and testing programmes across departments. He will work closely with Geoffrey Willis, the team's technical director, to develop the technical interaction with team partners, Honda and Bridgestone.

Willis commented: "Gary is a very highly respected engineer with a wealth of experience, not just in his specialist areas of engineering materials, particularly composites, but also of the multi-disciplinary nature of F1 engineering.

"I have enjoyed working with him to rebuild the engineering at BAR over the last 15 months and, as we now move into a new phase for the team, his appointment gives me the opportunity to focus more on car design and working with our team partners Honda."

Meanwhile, BMW WilliamsF1 Team has announced that Christian Vine, its head of sponsorship acquisitions, has agreed a long-term contract with the team.

Vine has led the team involved in the recent acquisitions of GSK (Niquitin CQ), Western Union and Budweiser.