Former managing director of BAR Craig Pollock is believed to be interested in taking over Tom Walkinshaw’s embattled Arrows F1 team.
Former managing director of BAR Craig Pollock is believed to be interested in taking over Tom Walkinshaw’s embattled Arrows F1 team.
CARtoday.com reported at the weekend that the Arrows team was unable to participate in the opening day of practice due to mounting debts.
Walkinshaw, the team’s boss, was refused permission by the British High Court to enter into deals to raise money for new engines so they could take part at Silverstone.
Walkinshaw spent much time behind closed doors in heavy discussions with Cosworth that resulted in the team boss paying the necessary funds to allow the engine manufacturer to release the V10 engines needed to participate in Britain.
However, Arrows’ participation at the next race at Magny-Cours is still in doubt.
It was during the weekend that rumours began to circulate that Pollock was interested in taking over the team. Sources told that the possibility of Jacques Villeneuve’s close friend and agent taking over Arrows was “more fact than fiction.”
Pollock created a stir earlier this year when he stepped down as team principal of the British American Racing team “to pursue other interests” – and this a mere 24 hours before BAR’s car for the 2002 season was to be unveiled.
Pollock is believed to have close ties to Renault and is keen to resume his partnership with the French manufacturer at Arrows.
But reports are emerging that several parties are interested in purchasing the Arrows team – something Walkinshaw admitted may be the only way to save the Leafield based squad.
”We have to agree to do whatever we need to do, and as I said if an offer comes in for the right value and you have to sell everything then we are obliged to do so,” Walkinshaw was quoted as saying.
“We probably had about 10 inquiries, of which we whittled down to three people with real substance behind it,” he added.
