Villeneuve fails to show in Spain

The Canadian was due to run at the Barcelona test today (Wednesday), but reserve driver Anthony Davidson was drafted in to replace him. Davidson had been scheduled to carry out straightline testing at an airfield in Yorkshire. Instead, Japanese Ryo Fukuda will carry out the airfield test.

Villeneuve's motorhome, which was awaiting him at the Spanish circuit, left the track earlier today.

His decision will fuel speculation that he is running out of patience with BAR, which has struggled to be competitive so far this season.

But last weekend at the Malaysian GP, Villeneuve repeated his promise to stay with the team until the end of the season. "I have a contract, so I am doing the season," he said. "If something happens, you will hear about it, but right now there is nothing in the pipeline."

He has never hidden the fact that he is unhappy about the teams progress, however. "This is the fourth season now [at BAR] and it is obvious that we are not going forwards," he claimed at Sepang.

Olivier Panis is due to join Davidson at the Barcelona test tomorrow.

BAR boss David Richards met with engine supplier Honda today to discuss the team's lack of competitiveness. Neither BAR nor Jordan, who also use Honda engines, are thought to be impressed with the performance of the Japanese motors.