Back in the late 90s we saw two almost entirely new outfits assemble on the F1 grid.
For 1997 Jackie Stewart and his son received backing from Ford to put together a brand new project and, in the same year, Ken Tyrells struggling outfit was sold and while much of the technical information and cars were sold to Paul Stoddart, British American Tobacco, a long time F1 sponsor, bought the F1 entry and built a brand new factory and team at Brackley, forming BAR, ready for when they took the reigns for the first time in 1999.
Barrichello picked up 5th place for Stewart at Canada 98
The split personality BAR01 driven by Villeneuve at home in 99
I was a young teenager, still fuming over Williams dropping Hill for 97, but beginning to get excited by McLarens fight back to the front, and of course, my new British hopeful, David Coulthard.
My interest in the sport away from the top teams was admittedly nothing more than to fill the grid slots, but very wisely it turns out, my dad kept on telling me, "keep an eye on those two (BAR and Stewart), they are the teams of the future!" I took note, but could hardly see how they were to achieve this, my heart wanted to believe it, but my head couldn't see how anyone could touch the established top teams. However i had no choice but to take his word because of his absolute belief in his own words. He was adamant.
Herbert bought Stewart their only win at Europe in 99. It was a fantastic 1st and 3rd for the team.
Jenson Button, Indy 05. He was to be BARs most succesful driver.
Skip forward just over a decade, investors have come and gone, but Brawn takes the WDC and WCC in '09, immediately followed by RBR doing the same in '10.
From where do these two teams descend? Stuart, and BAR, of course...
Still at the same bases set-up back in 97, still, i presume, made up of many of the same staff and despite the name on the door, still very much the same teams.
How did you know dad?
There's my exceptionnally brief overview. There is of course a lot more to say about both of these outfits and I'd love to hear from others their views and stories, particularly those that were older, wiser and more aware of the ins and outs of those two new outfits, the politics of the time, your opinions of them at the time etc. Did any of you have the same faith that they would one day be fighting McLaren and Ferrari week after week for example?
For 1997 Jackie Stewart and his son received backing from Ford to put together a brand new project and, in the same year, Ken Tyrells struggling outfit was sold and while much of the technical information and cars were sold to Paul Stoddart, British American Tobacco, a long time F1 sponsor, bought the F1 entry and built a brand new factory and team at Brackley, forming BAR, ready for when they took the reigns for the first time in 1999.
Barrichello picked up 5th place for Stewart at Canada 98
The split personality BAR01 driven by Villeneuve at home in 99
I was a young teenager, still fuming over Williams dropping Hill for 97, but beginning to get excited by McLarens fight back to the front, and of course, my new British hopeful, David Coulthard.
My interest in the sport away from the top teams was admittedly nothing more than to fill the grid slots, but very wisely it turns out, my dad kept on telling me, "keep an eye on those two (BAR and Stewart), they are the teams of the future!" I took note, but could hardly see how they were to achieve this, my heart wanted to believe it, but my head couldn't see how anyone could touch the established top teams. However i had no choice but to take his word because of his absolute belief in his own words. He was adamant.
Herbert bought Stewart their only win at Europe in 99. It was a fantastic 1st and 3rd for the team.
Jenson Button, Indy 05. He was to be BARs most succesful driver.
Skip forward just over a decade, investors have come and gone, but Brawn takes the WDC and WCC in '09, immediately followed by RBR doing the same in '10.
From where do these two teams descend? Stuart, and BAR, of course...
Still at the same bases set-up back in 97, still, i presume, made up of many of the same staff and despite the name on the door, still very much the same teams.
How did you know dad?
There's my exceptionnally brief overview. There is of course a lot more to say about both of these outfits and I'd love to hear from others their views and stories, particularly those that were older, wiser and more aware of the ins and outs of those two new outfits, the politics of the time, your opinions of them at the time etc. Did any of you have the same faith that they would one day be fighting McLaren and Ferrari week after week for example?