Pollock Confirms Villeneuve's Exit from BAR

Former Formula One World Champion Jacques Villeneuve will not race for BAR next season after the F1 team declined to renew his contract, the driver's agent Craig Pollock said on Saturday.

"We received a call from BAR Managing Director Dave Richards on Friday informing us of their decision," Pollock - BAR team principal until Richards replaced him in December 2001 - said in a media release.

"What is so disappointing is the fact that this team was built for, and around, Jacques and he underwent all sorts of trials and tribulations over the years as BAR struggled to find its place in Formula One."

Canadian Villeneuve, 32, was World Champion with Williams in 1997 after winning a place in Formula One on the back of two highly successful seasons in North America's Indy Car series. He was rookie of the year in 1994 and champion a year later.

He joined BAR, which was then run by his former schoolteacher and manager Pollock, in 1999. But in the five seasons since joining, the team have rarely threatened the F1 front-runners and Villeneuve has failed to win a race since leaving Williams.

"Jacques never wavered, and his loyalty to British American Racing was constant," Pollock added. "He had other opportunities, and no one would have blamed him for going elsewhere, but he preferred to see this project through despite a car that did not live up to its expectations."

"Our primary emotions right now are sadness and disappointment," Pollock said. "Jacques has given everything to British American Racing in its first five years, and always with a view to building a team that would be front-of-the-grid some day."

Pollock said he did not know if BAR's decision meant Villeneuve would or would not be driving in the final race of the season at Suzuka in Japan next weekend.

"All we know at this time is that BAR Managing Director Dave Richards has informed us that Jacques will no longer be part of British American Racing in 2004," he added.

BAR were unavailable for comment.