Pollock calls for peace at BAR

In this week's Autosport, Pollock said he wants an end to the rumours concerning a power struggle with joint boss Adrian Reynard, to allow the team to move forwards.

"I am the managing director of this team, and I have every intention of remaining as managing director as long as I possibly can," he said. "The team has gone from strength to strength, and now what we need is stability at all levels."

Pollock owns 35% of BAR, and the way the company is run with fellow shareholders British American Tobacco and Reynard means his position as MD is secure. Indeed, he would have to vote himself off the board to change the way the company is led.

BAR finished fifth in the World Championship this year, a vast improvement on its disastrous debut season in 1999 when it failed to score a single point.

"I'm generally pretty pleased," he said. "But I am not 100% jumping up and down for joy, because we made mistakes we shouldn't have from the start of the season. That is when you secure the big points, and we didn't do that."

He has set the team's sights higher for 2001, which will be a crucial year as its engine supplier Honda is believed to be considering buying into the team. This would depend on its performance relative to Jordan, which will also have Honda power next year.

Pollock added: "We finished fifth in our second season, and if we could have seized all the opportunities, we could have finished third. We have got to aim for third [next year], even though that in itself is not good enough. We have got to get closer to the top two teams."