Pollock set to engine formula one

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Jacques Villeneuve's former manager Craig Pollock has launched a new company to develop and supply Formula One engines.

With F1 due to change engine regulations for 2013, switching from the current 2.4-litre V8s to the greener, more efficient 1.6-litre, four-cylinder turbo units, Pollock believes PURE (Propulsion Universelle et Recuperation d'Energie) can tap into plans for a more environmentally-friendly sport.

At present F1 has just four engine suppliers - Ferrari, Mercedes, Renault and Cosworth - with Ferrari voicing their fears over the new engine rules.

"There are only four suppliers to date for 12 teams, and there is no guarantee there is going to be four suppliers in 2013," Pollock, 55, told.

"We purposely have not contacted any of the teams. We first had to get the company up and running after the engine rules changed in December last year.

"We've since put the company together and we now have all the (technology) partners in place prior to doing anything else.

"Our design and development is already way down the road and we are now ready to approach the teams.

"We're going to come in with a very cost-effective, high quality engine, and we believe there are many teams out there who will be looking for a change of supplier going forward.

"With every team, apart from the manufacturer teams, there is potential."

The Scot served as team principal of BAR for their first two seasons in Formula One as well as manager to 1997 world champion Villeneuve.

With no orders, Pollock admits the initial start-up funds are coming out of his own pocket, although he maintains other financial partners are due to come on board.

In terms of technology, Mecachrome are among the key players, the French engineering company who previously made a relatively unsuccessful foray into F1 in 1998 when they supplied engines to Williams and Benetton.

As a key advisor Pollock does have Christian Contzen, the architect of Renault's success as an engine supplier in the 1990s.

Pollock would appear to be taking a gamble, but he insists that is far from the case.

"We certainly don't see it that way. We have the very clear backing of the FIA and also Bernie (Ecclestone) is very supportive," Pollock added.

FIA president Jean Todt has certainly given PURE his blessing and said: "The rule changes for 2013 have been developed to provide lower cost, greener and more fuel efficient technologies for Formula One.

"We wish PURE every success in developing powertrains compliant with the new FIA regulations."