F1: Villadelprat Leaves Benetton

Benetton has announced the resignation of team manager Joan Villadelprat. Villadelprat, who started his F1 career in 1980, is the second team-member to quit the Italian team in recent weeks. Villadelprat said, ‘I have really enjoyed my ten years at Benetton, but feel that in spite of the excellent relationship between myself and the management, the time has come for me to move on to new projects.’ Team boss Rocco Benetton added, ‘Joan has been a strong and committed member of the team for over a decade and as such has had a valuable part to play in our history.’ His departure comes weeks after technical director Nick Wirth quit the team.