Prodrive in F1 in 2008

[Nick Koan]

http://www.crash.net/news_view.asp?cid=1&id=125896

Prodrive look set to unveil plans for an entry into Formula One for the 2008 season, with an announcement possible as early as Wednesday.

Speculation has been rife since the Autosport International show in January that Prodrive boss David Richards - previously involved with the Benetton and BAR teams - was looking to try and put together a Formula One entry of his own, with the man himself admitting to Crash.net Radio that a return to the F1 paddock was a distinct possibility.

"It is very much around how deep your pockets are and the large manufacturers will dominate in those situations; there is no getting away from that," he said at the time. "If the rules change in 2008, as is the goal, then the circumstances could be right for a team like Prodrive to become involved again so we will watch that development very carefully.

"I suspect there would be very few organisations in the world more capable of achieving a result in that area than us."

[sperry]

Dude... that was already posted on SECCS... by you...

http://www.seccs.org/forums/showpost...0&postcount=47

[Nick Koan]

Did I just WTLM myself?

It needed its own thread though, as it appears the actual announcement is imminent.

[sperry]

Originally Posted by nKoan

Did I just WTLM myself?

It needed its own thread though, as it appears the actual announcement is eminent.

The announcement is what?

[Nick Koan]

eminent, immeminent, damnit.

[MattR]

<---pretends to be informed on the "new " story

Wow...Great news.!

[Nick Koan]

I hate you all

http://www.crash.net/news_View~t~Pro...~id~125928.htm

The much-hyped Prodrive Formula One announcement turned out to be little more than confirmation that the engineering giant is to build a high technology facility on its Warwick site, although that does not rule out further developments in the future.

Much had been made about the fact that a major revelation was due from David Richards' concern today [Wednesday], but the hoped-for confirmation of an entry into the top flight in 2008 never arrived, as Prodrive staff briefed the local media about its plans for a 200-acre site in Warwickshire, which could become a leading research and development centre for the automotive and motorsport industries. The site already contains a vehicle proving ground and is home to several leading automotive technology companies, including Prodrive, Marcos and TRW.

Development of the site near Kenilworth would see new offices, design studios, R&D laboratories and a conference centre included under one roof, and more than 1000 people could eventually be based at the site, creating new employment opportunities for the area. Prodrive, which is just part of the Fulcrum project, did admit, however, that the facility did have scope to become the home for a new British Formula One team, but stopped short of confirming that it would form the nucleus of that team.

"This is a classic case of Chinese whispers - although there is some basis to it," a Prodrive spokesman told Crash.net, "It's seems that a few people have put two and two together and got ten. This announcement is not confirmation that Prodrive is going to do Formula One."

Development of the site is still subject to the planning consent but, should it be granted, the centre would become known as the Fulcrum. Construction would start in early 2007, with the first development being the 'Catalyst', Fulcrum's signature building. This will be an office and conference centre complex, which could become home to many of the organisations that support the British automotive and motorsport industries, while an adjoining conference centre would have a 250-seat auditorium, making it ideal for international automotive industry events.

While plans for the Fulcrum allow for a motorsport complex within the site, which could eventually house a new British Formula One team, local planning would only allow road silenced vehicles to use the test track.

"The British automotive and motorsport industries are coming under increasing pressure from competition overseas," Richards commented in a media statement, "By developing the Fulcrum, we can provide high level technical skills and resources which will help the region's vehicle manufacturers and motorsport teams succeed and, at the same time, encourage more inward investment to the West Midlands."

[Nick Koan]

Official!

http://www.crash.net/news_View~t~Pro...~id~127553.htm

As has been widely expected for several weeks, Prodrive has confirmed that it submitted an entry for the 2008 Formula One world championship on the final day for applications.

Company chairman David Richards has 'enjoyed' previous F1 experience with both Benetton and BAR, but has made no secret of running his own team, under the Prodrive banner, without admitting that he was planning to lodge an entry for 2008, even though he has often referred to the advent of the extended Concorde Agreement as the ideal time for privateers to get involved in what has become a largely manufacturer-led series.

Prodrive, renowned as en engineering company, has already tasted success in rallying, with Subaru, sportscars, with both Ferrari and Aston Martin, and V8 Supercars in Australia, with Ford, but Formula One remains unconquered territory for the ambitious firm.

"Formula One is still regarded as the pinnacle of motorsport and therefore a natural next step for Prodrive," Richards confirmed, "While we may be a very large company in motorsport terms, we are very much a minnow in comparison to the vehicle manufacturers who currently dominate the sport. However, on the basis of the new regulations being proposed by the FIA, we believe the time is now right for us to take this next step."

Prodrive's ambitions took one step closer to reality when Richards unveiled plans to revamp its Honiley site to include a series of design, R&D and workshop facilities suitable for Formula One use - although the company played down the belief that a team was planned at that stage. The project is still subject to planning permission but, should it be granted, construction would commence at the end of the year. Prior to completion, the company intends to run the F1 programme from its existing facilities.

"The next few months will see the clarification of the rules for 2008 and, should our entry be accepted, we would aim to play a constructive part in determining the new rules with the objective of creating an environment where private teams, without access to the massive resources of the vehicle manufacturers, can once again be competitive - a situation we believe will be far healthier for the long term future of F1," Richards explained.

He continued by revealing that further details of the proposed programme would be confirmed should Prodrive be included on the definitive entry list to be issued by the FIA on 28 April.

Although Prodrive boasts possibly the best credentials of all those known to have submitted an entry, Richards will find himself up against former Minardi boss Paul Stoddart and, possibly, his predecessor at BAR, Craig Pollock, both of whom have been connected to entries.

Stoddart has made no secret of his desire to return to the top flight after selling up to Red Bull's Scuderia Toro Rosso for 2006, but Pollock has been more elusive when asked to confirm his plans.

[skimonkey30]

Looks Like prodrive has claimed the 12th and final spot on the grid for 2008

http://f1.racing-live.com/f1/en/head...27170251.shtml

[Kevin M]

Sweeeet.

[bemani]

Petter should change job and start driving F1.

[Nick Koan]

Bump!

Its no secret that Prodrive was looking at customer options for the first year or so, but I think everyone expected Cosworth engines and someone elses year old chasis... certainly not McLaren customer chasis and Mercedes customer engine. Very interesting indeed.

Oh, and I have a feeling Sarrazin will jump ship and become a test driver for F1 again.

Prodrive look at becoming McLaren 'B'

By Anthony Rowlinson Thursday, July 20th 2006, 09:55 GMT

Prodrive boss David Richards is making a bid for his new Formula One team to become a McLaren 'B' operation, this week's Autosport magazine reveals.

With the imminent collapse of Japanese investment firm Direxiv's plans to link up with McLaren, Autosport reports that Richards has held talks with McLaren about running customer chassis and Mercedes-Benz engines from 2008.

Richards has made no secret of the fact that his new F1 team could have a better chance of success becoming a customer team, rather than trying to create everything from scratch.

Speaking to Autosport, Richards said: "One of the things I am trying to do with Prodrive F1 is to bring in fresh ideas and fresh thinking.

"We have an opportunity to do things in a new way, a much less labour-intensive way and in a manner that we believe will shatter some of the entrenched beliefs about how a Formula One team has to be structured."

Richards attended last weekend's French Grand Prix as part of the early groundwork for his team. It is understood that he held talks with team personnel, as he prior to him drawing up a wish-list of key staff that he wants for his outfit.

[Nick Koan]

More news on Prodrive in 08.

A spokesperson for David Richards' future formula one team Prodrive has refused to expand on speculation of talks with carmakers about 2008.

Sky Sports floated the concept of deals with Nissan and even Aston Martin, but the spokesperson said: "We are continuing discussions with potential partners but we are not in a position to divulge the exact nature of these discussions, nor the parties involved."

The Nissan rumours - including the possible involvement of former champion and team owner Alain Prost - arose in a report of the French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche, while speculation about British carmaker Aston Martin has been building with its forays in Le Mans and GT racing.


It is suggested that Aston Martin might link up with Cosworth to re-badge its unused V8 engine.

Prodrive's spokesperson also denied reports of a possible sale to another grand prix entrant, while confirming that the strategy is still to pair up with an existing team to buy both chassis and engine.