Model Cars - BAR

BAR (British American Racing) was a Formula One team that competed in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship from 1999 to 2005. It was a partnership between the British American Tobacco (BAT) company and Honda. The team was formed in 1999 following the British American Tobacco company’s decision to enter Formula 1 as a title sponsor and team owner. BAT had previously been involved in Formula 1 through sponsorship, but this marked their first direct involvement in team ownership. The team was led by Craig Pollock, a former manager of Jacques Villeneuve, who became the team principal. Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 Formula 1 World Champion, was signed as the team's first driver, bringing significant attention to the new team. The name BAR comes from the combination of British American Tobacco and the team's focus on a British identity. BAT's involvement in the team had a significant impact, not only financially but also in terms of marketing, as BAT used the team as a platform for their tobacco brands like Lucky Strike. Over the next few seasons, BAR worked on improving their car designs, with a focus on better aerodynamics and chassis. They started making progress in terms of overall performance, though they were still not able to consistently challenge the front runners. Team's Impact: BAR helped build the foundation for the success that would come to Honda in F1 after the team’s transition. It also contributed to the development of key technologies and driver expertise that carried over to other teams in the future.