British American Racing are lining up several F1 rookies to test for them as potential replacements for Jacques Villeneuve in 2004. With the 1997 World Champion's contract expiring at the end of 2003, and BAR boss Dave Richards keen to use the Canadian's salary as development funds, several cheaper alternatives are being sounded out.
Newly crowned Formula Nippon champion Ralph Firman has been awarded a Barcelona test date with the team on December 15th. Presented publicly as a 'reward' for his victory in the series, the test is more likely to be an opportunity for BAR to gauge the Englishman's ability. With Formula Nippon representing the closest 'junior' category to F1, Firman could be viewed as an ideal candidate if he performs well. The 2002-champ has made no secret of his desire to secure an F1 testing deal, as a precursor to a full-time drive and this first test could be a step towards that goal.
Several other drivers are also vying for the 2004 seat, with most set to be offered tests with BAR through their Honda connections. Earlier in the year MOTORSPORTFORUM revealed that CART driver Dario Franchitti's deal to switch to the IRL with Honda includes the opportunity to test the BAR in 2003/2004. With his strong ties to the Honda brand and high media profile in North America, the Scotsman could be a strong bet for a BAR seat, assuming that he performs well in testing.
Jordan star Takuma Sato is another potential candidate. He is expected to switch to a full-time testing role with BAR for 2003 after a relatively unsuccessful first season in F1. As MOTORSPORTFORUM predicted last week, Eddie Irvine will replace the Japanese driver at Jordan for commercial reasons, and Sato's links with Honda will virtually guarantee him a testing contract in 2003. This is likely to be with a view to regaining a full-time seat in 2004.
And with the likes of Anthony Davidson still featuring prominently in BAR's plans, the battle for Villeneuve's 2004 race seat is hotting up with Sato, Franchitti and Firman leading the way.
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