McLaren denies PURE speculation

30/01/2012

McLaren has dismissed speculation in the Italian media linking it with Craig Pollock's engine company PURE.

A report in Gazzetta dello Sport suggests that the Woking manufacturer has been in touch with the new manufacturer ahead of the introduction of the new V6 1600cc engine formula in 2014.

PURE (Propulsion Universelle et Recuperation d'Energie), the brainchild of former BAR boss and Jacques Villeneuve manager, Craig Pollock, first came to light last May, described as the response to "growing demand for cutting edge, exceptionally efficient and high performance powertrains" with F1 cited as the ideal platform.

Having had the initial approval of FIA President Jean Todt, there was concern when Giles Simon, the FIA's director, technical and powertrain, joined the company, the Frenchman having played a leading role in formulating the new engine formula.

In November 2009, McLaren announced in a joint press release with Mercedes, that the current engine supply deal would last until the end of 2015, possibly beyond. However, there has been continued speculation that the Woking team might still look for an alternative supplier.

Gazzetta dello Sport claims that McLaren has spoken to Pollock and Simon, suggesting that PURE will become the sixth engine manufacturer to supply the Woking outfit, however, the team was quick to dismiss the speculation.

"McLaren has had absolutely no contact with Pure for many months," a spokesperson told Pitpass. "Moreover, the contact we did have with Pure, many months ago, was of an entirely informal nature, and was merely a courtesy gesture."