Villeneuve to test for Williams THIS WEEK!!!!!

[nojvnof1 0]

Williams have confirmed Jacques Villeneuve will be testing the Williams FW26 at Paul Ricard this week. It's all coming together now. I thought it would happen after Monaco, but this is great. I jumped out of my chair and starting cheering as soon as I read the news. Sir Frank and PH know they need someone who can extract more out of that car. What are the odds of him racing as early as Montreal or later??!! I hope their two drivers are at the test so JV has a benchmark. I wonder if DR will be there, this has to wipe that smug grin off his face!!!! Sir Frank said he won't comment on drivers for next year but PH has said they have had discussions with JV, or was the contract signed in Suzuka, and they're just playing everyone around!!

M$ domination is a blessing in disguise as it's proved how inept the other drivers are and has only raised JV's value significantly Power to you Jacques, now do the business!!

The news is on f1-live.com and f1central.net and maybe more!!

[nojvnof1 0]

It's from the Sun :

JACQUES VILLENEUVE

[amjay 0]

nojvnof1,

you know if he does get a ride with Williams next year i'll be wondering who to congratulate .. you are Jaques... .... hihihi

anyway news of he possibily comin back to williams is great to hear and at least we know the person to replace JPM ain't crap....

[nojvnof1 0]

nojvnof1,

you know if he does get a ride with Williams next year i'll be wondering who to congratulate .. you are Jaques...     .... hihihi

anyway news of he possibily comin back to williams is great to hear and at least we know the person to replace JPM ain't crap....

you can congratulate us both mate .

[webber 0]

ok what i read on Pitpass.com said that Willams had denyed any invation from them to JV about a test on at paul recard this week. i like the fact that he might be testing there. but if he is there just for a seat fitting then he might be testing after the next GP. but whats the point of having him there just to get a seat fitting and not test?

[Taku 0]

i don't want to throw water on the fire, but grandprix.com are reporting that it's mainly optimistic reporting from canada:

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns12867.html

still, he's come out of hiding for a reason has he not. maybe official confirmation is not far away..

[nojvnof1 0]

Much to my and his massive legions of fans dismay, JV was not at the track, this was confirmed by Patrick Head and Craig Pollock. It's been confirmed on other sites as well. I wasn't jumping the gun on my report though, I was honestly reporting what was on other sites, which turned out to be nothing but a load of bull$hit. Some say he was at the factory a couple weeks ago, but a test in the future hasn't been ruled out. They also said there could be a decision about their drivers in August, so the wait continues. I'm pretty pi$$ed off at the moment cos of inept jounos, well, it's back to the Sato bashing to ease my mind :wink: Just kidding there!!

[Taku 0]

Much to my and his massive legions of fans dismay, JV was not at the track, this was confirmed by Patrick Head and Craig Pollock. It's been confirmed on other sites as well. I wasn't jumping the gun on my report though, I was honestly reporting what was on other sites, which turned out to be nothing but a load of bull$hit. Some say he was at the factory a couple weeks ago, but a test in the future hasn't been ruled out. They also said there could be a decision about their drivers in August, so the wait continues. I'm pretty pi$$ed off at the moment cos of inept jounos, well, it's back to the Sato bashing to ease my mind  :wink: Just kidding there!!

i know what you mean about the "journo's" tho. f1 central actually said "Jacques Villeneuve will test a BMW-Williams this week.", with no source from within the team to confirm it. only patrick head's commnets from last week that he'd had discussions with jv. gotta wonder if they're just doing it for the click-count..

[nojvnof1 0]

Yeah maybe, it just proves JV immense stature in the sport. He's doing ok for someone supposedly washed up But he's an easy target at the same time as he has such a big fanbase and know they will get readers. I'm not going to believe anything anymore!! I'll keep posting articles and stuff just for everyone's interest, but I won't believe anything until I see a headline saying to the effect - "Williams Confirm Villeneuve for 2005" with the subheading "Jacques happy to be back and may be in this year if lucky" That last part of the subheading is more wishful thinking really but I think you get my drift.

[AutoRacer5 0]

He needs to get back in the driver's seat. He's probably bored with not racing, but I would like to see him back at Williams.

[nojvnof1 0]

Yeah you're right I think. JV needs to get his rear end into a car and quick!!! Apparently JV and CP had a good old chuckle at the F1 rumour mill after all this nonsense that went on. JV and CP saw the funny side of it, which is great to see.

[nojvnof1 0]

Well, after denying the reports of him testing comes this article from crash.net

Williams: Jacques isn't testing for us

[Senna 0]

I

[nojvnof1 0]

But wait there's more.

this is from gp2004.com

"The question of future drivers at Williams got a new boost just before the Spanish Grand Prix when team boss Frank Williams together with Patrick Head and Jim Wright contacted Jacques Villeneuve. The Canadian has sold his boat and installed his driving simulator into his flat in Monte Carlo, where he recommenced serious physical training together with his physio Erwin G_llner. Villeneuve is supposed to test a Williams in the first week of June, probably at Silverstone. He has also offered to test free of charge regularly for the rest of the season in order to have some influence on next years car.

There are now rumours circulating that Villeneuve may be behind the wheel of the FW26 from the Canadian Grand Prix onward, but this is only possible if Ralf Schumacher gives up his current position by himself. His manager Willi Weber said:

[webber 0]

that one sounds a bit more true. and its nice to see JV sell his boat and install a driving simulater and get back into traning. maby he relly will be coming back. that story makes it look true with the fact tacken that R$ might be able to start work on the 2005 Toyota is he leaves Williams.

[Senna 0]

I think there is a very good chance JV will be back in F1 but I seriously doubt he will be back before the end of this season – sorry Shaun – I just can’t see it happening. As for Willi Weber’s claims that it would be difficult to prove to a court that Ralf is not performing, I rather think it would be difficult to prove that Ralf is performing! 5-0 to Montoya in qualifying, Montoya leads Ralf in points too, further more Ralf has had far too many silly collisions and I must say has failed to impress me since he entered into F1...

[nojvnof1 0]

I think there is a very good chance JV will be back in F1 but I seriously doubt he will be back before the end of this season

[nojvnof1 0]

Here's something interesting that's popped up

According to a

[Taku 0]

looking at the way jv got screwed over by dr (assuming what you say is true), like i've always said, it's jv's mangement that betrayed him in the end. while capable of making the big deal, i've always thought that cp's a bit of a joke. look at what he achieved at bar --> f' all.

poor jv, he seems like a loyal man who has picked, and is sticking with the wrong guy.

[webber 0]

yea im starting to think that JV is a loyol man but its seams to me that the man i once thort was a good guy CP is just putting JV in a bad spot.

[nojvnof1 0]

I think the reason JV is so close with CP is that JV lost his father at an early age and looks up to him in sort of a father figure way. That's the only way I can explain their very close relationship. CP has got a bar rap, but really, this is the guy who brought Honda back into the sport and negotiated a contract for his man which was great for both of them - rightly or wrongly - the man's a fantastic businessman.

If JV is serious about the drive, he'll do whatever it takes to get it. I can't honestly see JV dumping CP, but he could find a way around it. I think CP should leave JV to the engineers for the race weekend, and then catch up with him on all other days, mostly at tests and his days off. JV, like his late, great father, is a man of honour and loyalty, why else did he stay at BAR so long?! At the end of the day, it's JV's decision and if he doesn't feel comfortable driving without CP then he shouldn't do it. At the end of the day he achieved what he wanted, anything else is a bonus, but things are looking good.

[Senna 0]

I can't honestly see JV dumping CP.

Neither can I

[nojvnof1 0]

"Usually-reliable sources are now offering an explanation for this odd situation, explaining that Villeneuve will be seen in a car but Williams is nonetheless not very interested in signing him up for the future. This may sound illogical but it seems that BMW is the motive force behind a planned test and have insisted that Villeneuve do some work for them, hoping no doubt that his knowledge of the Honda V10 engine will rub off on the latest offering from Munich. It will do no harm in America, BMW's biggest market and is obviously the beginning of a campaign to get Villeneuve back into F1."

Who would have thought BMW pushing for JV return?? Everything is falling into place. CP is not one to be quiet and his silence is deafening!! The fact CP is being so quiet and not talking about imminent deals must mean something is brewing, it's just been too quiet.

LaPresse newspaper in Montreal claims that unless something goes terribly wrong, Williams and Villeneuve have come to a concluded a deal.

Apparently, Jacques will test at Silverstone, and again for the next tests after that. The seat fitting is already a done deal. Special visors have already been ordered for Jacques helmet! Looks like he'll get a couple tests to get used to the car in preparation for Canadian GP. It all makes sense, Ralf is announced at Toyota at Nurburgring, whilst Williams announce JV to Williams for '05 and maybe this year. It'll take the gloss of Ralf and Williams get stick it up Ralf!!

[webber 0]

i dont think Canadai think next year

[nojvnof1 0]

i dont think Canadai think next year

yeah, i'm with you there, next year is more realistic, if he gets back this year it'll be a bonus.