Tyrrell, the team for which Jos Verstappen ...

Published on 13 November 1997 by Verstappen Info Page

Tyrrell, the team for which Jos Verstappen is driving, is on the verge of a possible take over by one of the largest tobacco companies in the world. British American Tobacco (BAT) wants to invest $500 million in Tyrrell for five years.

British newspapers tell that the company has almost completed a settlement with teamboss Ken Tyrrell. According to the Guardian Villeneuve has already been signed for 1999 by the tobacco company.

BAT sells 700 billion cigarettes a year and is the third largest tobacco company in the Western world. With an own Formula 1 team the team is able to market it's brands Lucky Strike and State Express 555 on a world wide scale.

The deal makes sure that tobacco companies get an even larger grip on auto- and motorsport. Six other teams are already being sponsored by tobacco firms for approximately $175 million a year. It is for the first time that a company buys a whole team.

Tobacco sponsoring in autosport is not without problems lately, especially in Europe. The EU talks about a complete ban. A ban on tobacco advertising could transfer the Formula 1 circus to Asia, where the rules are less strict. This continent is the new market for tobacco companies. Asia also has the potentially largest TV audience.