Craig Pollock
Encyclopedia
Craig Pollock is a businessman who was the manager of the Formula One
driver Jacques Villeneuve
throughout his top-level career, and team principal of the British American Racing
team from to . He is currently the head of engineering company Propulsion Universelle et Recuperation d'Energie
(PURE).
Pollock worked as a teacher
in the late 1970s eventually becoming director of sport at the College Beausoleil in Villars
, Switzerland
. Here he met a young Jacques Villeneuve
who had been sent to the school following the death of his Formula One driver father Gilles
. Their shared passion for skiing
allowed them to become friends before Pollock moved on to set up his own business.
After leaving school Villeneuve pursued a career as a racing driver, following in his father's footsteps, and eventually moved to Japan
. The two men were brought back together by a chance meeting at the Suzuka
circuit, and Pollock agreed to become Villeneuve's manager.
In 1993 Villeneuve raced in American
Formula Atlantic
before breaking into IndyCars
in 1994. After winning a race in his rookie season Villeneuve took the CART
championship and prestigious Indy 500 win in 1995. The following year Villeneuve relocated to Europe
, joining Williams Grand Prix and bringing Pollock into Formula One
.
Riding on the back of Villeneuve's 1997
Formula One title, Pollock persuaded British American Tobacco
to bankroll his ambition of becoming a team manager. In 1998 Pollock purchased Tyrrell
, renaming it British American Racing
(BAR), and signed his close friend and driver to be team leader. Immediately a controversial figure, Pollock made numerous claims about how successful his team would be. His high hopes proved to be unfounded however with a disastrous debut in 1999.
Results continued to be poor and by 2001 British American Tobacco
had lost patience. Pollock was replaced as team principal by David Richards
, although he remained a shareholder
until the partial Honda
buyout in 2004.
In 2003, Pollock formed CART
team PK Racing
, with businessman Kevin Kalkhoven
. He remained as co-owner of the team until 2004.
Craig Pollock managed Jacques Villeneuve through the end of his Formula One career, and he made an application to motorsport governing body the FIA to enter a Formula One team for 2008
. The proposed team was one of many rejected in favour of David Richard's Prodrive
entry.
Pollock and Villeneuve ended their business relationship in January, 2008.
In May 2011, Pollock announced his creation of Propulsion Universelle et Recuperation d'Energie
(PURE), an engineering company which aims to produce F1 engines for the technical regulations.
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
driver Jacques Villeneuve
Jacques Villeneuve
Jacques Joseph Charles Villeneuve, , is a Canadian musician and automobile racing driver. He is the son of the late Formula One driver Gilles Villeneuve, and is the namesake of his uncle...
throughout his top-level career, and team principal of the British American Racing
British American Racing
British American Racing was a Formula One constructor that competed in the sport from 1999 to 2005. BAR began by acquiring Tyrrell, and used Supertec engines for their first year...
team from to . He is currently the head of engineering company Propulsion Universelle et Recuperation d'Energie
Propulsion Universelle et Recuperation d'Energie
Propulsion Universelle et Recuperation d'Energie , French for Universal Propulsion and Recuperation of Energy, is a motorsports engineering company founded by former British American Racing team principal Craig Pollock in 2011...
(PURE).
Pollock worked as a teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
in the late 1970s eventually becoming director of sport at the College Beausoleil in Villars
Villars-sur-Ollon
Villars sur Ollon, commonly referred to as Villars, is a village in Switzerland in the canton of Vaud, part of the municipality of Ollon. Accommodation consists largely of chalets...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. Here he met a young Jacques Villeneuve
Jacques Villeneuve
Jacques Joseph Charles Villeneuve, , is a Canadian musician and automobile racing driver. He is the son of the late Formula One driver Gilles Villeneuve, and is the namesake of his uncle...
who had been sent to the school following the death of his Formula One driver father Gilles
Gilles Villeneuve
Joseph Gilles Henri Villeneuve, better known as Gilles Villeneuve , was a Canadian racing driver. An enthusiast of cars and fast driving from an early age, he started his professional career in snowmobile racing in his native province of Quebec...
. Their shared passion for skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
allowed them to become friends before Pollock moved on to set up his own business.
After leaving school Villeneuve pursued a career as a racing driver, following in his father's footsteps, and eventually moved to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The two men were brought back together by a chance meeting at the Suzuka
Suzuka Circuit
, Suzuka Circuit for short, is a motorsport race track located in Ino, Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, Japan and operated by Mobilityland Corporation, the subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd..-Introduction:...
circuit, and Pollock agreed to become Villeneuve's manager.
In 1993 Villeneuve raced in American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Formula Atlantic
Formula Atlantic
Formula Atlantic is a specification of open wheel racing car developed in the 1970s. It was used in professional racing through the IMSA Atlantic Championship until 2009 and is currently primarily used in amateur racing through Sports Car Club of America Formula Atlantic.-History:The history of...
before breaking into IndyCars
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
in 1994. After winning a race in his rookie season Villeneuve took the CART
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
championship and prestigious Indy 500 win in 1995. The following year Villeneuve relocated to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, joining Williams Grand Prix and bringing Pollock into Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
.
Riding on the back of Villeneuve's 1997
1997 Formula One season
The 1997 Formula One season was the 48th FIA Formula One World Championship season. It commenced on March 9, 1997, and ended on October 26 after seventeen races.-Season summary:...
Formula One title, Pollock persuaded British American Tobacco
British American Tobacco
British American Tobacco p.l.c. is a global tobacco company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s second largest quoted tobacco company by global market share , with a leading position in more than 50 countries and a presence in more than 180 countries...
to bankroll his ambition of becoming a team manager. In 1998 Pollock purchased Tyrrell
Tyrrell Racing
The Tyrrell Racing Organisation was an auto racing team and Formula One constructor founded by Ken Tyrrell which started racing in 1958 and started building its own cars in 1970. The team experienced its greatest success in the early 1970s, when it won three drivers' championships and one...
, renaming it British American Racing
British American Racing
British American Racing was a Formula One constructor that competed in the sport from 1999 to 2005. BAR began by acquiring Tyrrell, and used Supertec engines for their first year...
(BAR), and signed his close friend and driver to be team leader. Immediately a controversial figure, Pollock made numerous claims about how successful his team would be. His high hopes proved to be unfounded however with a disastrous debut in 1999.
Results continued to be poor and by 2001 British American Tobacco
British American Tobacco
British American Tobacco p.l.c. is a global tobacco company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s second largest quoted tobacco company by global market share , with a leading position in more than 50 countries and a presence in more than 180 countries...
had lost patience. Pollock was replaced as team principal by David Richards
David Richards (racing)
David Pender Richards CBE is the chairman of Prodrive and Aston Martin, and a former team principal of the BAR and Benetton Formula One motor racing teams. He lives with his wife, Karen, in Warwickshire and has three children....
, although he remained a shareholder
Shareholder
A shareholder or stockholder is an individual or institution that legally owns one or more shares of stock in a public or private corporation. Shareholders own the stock, but not the corporation itself ....
until the partial Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
buyout in 2004.
In 2003, Pollock formed CART
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
team PK Racing
PKV Racing
KV Racing Technology – Lotus is an auto racing team that competes in the IndyCar Series. The team was originally formed as PK Racing before the 2003 season by Australian businessman Kevin Kalkhoven and former Formula One team manager Craig Pollock from the remnants of the PacWest team.The team has...
, with businessman Kevin Kalkhoven
Kevin Kalkhoven
Kevin Oscar Newton Kalkoven, former CEO of JDS Uniphase, is an Australian venture capitalist and auto racing magnate based in Menlo Park, California. He is a partner in the Kalkhoven, Pettit, Levin and Johnson Venture capital firm based in Menlo Park....
. He remained as co-owner of the team until 2004.
Craig Pollock managed Jacques Villeneuve through the end of his Formula One career, and he made an application to motorsport governing body the FIA to enter a Formula One team for 2008
2008 Formula One season
The 2008 Formula One season was the 59th FIA Formula One World Championship season. It began on 16 March and ended on 2 November with eighteen Grand Prix races....
. The proposed team was one of many rejected in favour of David Richard's Prodrive
Prodrive F1
Prodrive F1 Team is the name of a proposed Formula One team to be run by Prodrive. The team was selected by the FIA in 2006 to be the 12th entry into the 2008 Formula One world championship...
entry.
Pollock and Villeneuve ended their business relationship in January, 2008.
In May 2011, Pollock announced his creation of Propulsion Universelle et Recuperation d'Energie
Propulsion Universelle et Recuperation d'Energie
Propulsion Universelle et Recuperation d'Energie , French for Universal Propulsion and Recuperation of Energy, is a motorsports engineering company founded by former British American Racing team principal Craig Pollock in 2011...
(PURE), an engineering company which aims to produce F1 engines for the technical regulations.