The HRT thread

Warren Hughes · Post by **Warren Hughes** » 06 Nov 2012, 11:09

Joe Saward claims that Ma Qing-Hua has been given a race drive for next season. He cites 'reports coming out of China'

DanielPT · Post by **DanielPT** » 06 Nov 2012, 14:59

Warren Hughes wrote:Joe Saward claims that Ma Qing-Hua has been given a race drive for next season. He cites 'reports coming out of China'

That would be one hell of a reject move. Thank HWNSNBM HRT exists!

pasta_maldonado · Post by **pasta_maldonado** » 06 Nov 2012, 17:56

DanielPT wrote:
Warren Hughes wrote:Joe Saward claims that Ma Qing-Hua has been given a race drive for next season. He cites 'reports coming out of China'

That would be one hell of a reject move. Thank HWNSNBM HRT exists!

Now, let's pray to HWNSNBM that HRT will continue to be rejectful

solarcold · Post by **solarcold** » 06 Nov 2012, 18:00

As a HRT fan, I'm torn between the love for HRT and love for rejectfulness.

DanielPT · Post by **DanielPT** » 06 Nov 2012, 18:18

pasta_maldonado wrote:
DanielPT wrote:
Warren Hughes wrote:Joe Saward claims that Ma Qing-Hua has been given a race drive for next season. He cites 'reports coming out of China'

That would be one hell of a reject move. Thank HWNSNBM HRT exists!

Now, let's pray to HWNSNBM that HRT will continue to be rejectful

I think that, by signing drivers like Karthikeyan and Ma Qing-Hua, that is a safe assumption to make...

EDIT: Wait! Ma Qing-Hua won the Chinese touring car championship (1600cc class) beating in the process such greats as Li Feng Lin and Xu Chen, so scratch what I've said...

RealRacingRoots · Post by **RealRacingRoots** » 07 Nov 2012, 02:34

JSNSNBM. Can't trust source.

But still, it would be good to see Ma get the drive. I would imagine Pedro and Luis would mentor him a lot.

David AGS · Post by **David AGS** » 07 Nov 2012, 10:24

The key is that he brings cash, and potentially lots of it. On his young driver test earlier on the year, there were 5-6 at least personal sponsorship, and they can do with that. He has qualified for a F1 licence!

Is there a limit of how many driver changes a team can use in a season?

They could do DLR and Clos for European races, Karthikeyan for India and Japan, and Ma for rest of races.

DanielPT · Post by **DanielPT** » 07 Nov 2012, 11:03

Joe Saward now claims that the reports (that he helped spreading) claiming Ma signed for HRT were a bit premature. So, it was premature to jump on premature reports. I would love James Allen to come forward and say that 'there are some sides of F1 press eager to jump on any rumour or report that happens to come by and turn it out as something true and so it appears that they were wrong in the whole Ma signs for HRT thing bla bla bla' with an air of superiority or arrogance on it.

cbbcisace · Post by **cbbcisace** » 07 Nov 2012, 22:18

All i can say is this, why have a press conference for your development driver if he isn't in your race plans next year?

solarcold · Post by **solarcold** » 08 Nov 2012, 06:00

I miss Liuzzi.

RealRacingRoots · Post by **RealRacingRoots** » 08 Nov 2012, 06:23

solarcold wrote:I miss Liuzzi.

He cocked up winning the V8 Superstars title a few weekends back. It looks like he had a real good shot of winning it, except he crashed on both races in true reject fashion. He has a "future" in V8 Superstars/Supercars Racing. But you never know with HRT.

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 08 Nov 2012, 08:44

RealRacingRoots wrote:
solarcold wrote:I miss Liuzzi.

He cocked up winning the V8 Superstars title a few weekends back. It looks like he had a real good shot of winning it, except he crashed on both races in true reject fashion. He has a "future" in V8 Superstars/Supercars Racing. But you never know with HRT.

He also was the guy who collected Hinchcliffe off the start of the first V8 Supercars race at the Gold Coast last month, which triggered all the carnage behind him. God I hope he doesn't get the D'Alberto Racing gig next year so he doesn't get the chance to write off one of the Walkinshaw cars. Then again, knowing Walkinshaw, they'll give D'Alberto the dodgy car to work with anyway :lol:

RonDenisDeletraz · Post by **RonDenisDeletraz** » 08 Nov 2012, 10:35

Wizzie wrote:He also was the guy who collected Hinchcliffe off the start of the first V8 Supercars race at the Gold Coast last month, which triggered all the carnage behind him. God I hope he doesn't get the D'Alberto Racing gig next year so he doesn't get the chance to write off one of the Walkinshaw cars. Then again, knowing Walkinshaw, they'll give D'Alberto the dodgy car to work with anyway

D'Mafia racing would be crap no matter what car they have :lol:

Post by **DemocalypseNow** » 08 Nov 2012, 15:10

Imagine a D'Alberto/Liuzzi lineup for the enduros next season. I don't think ATCC/V8SC has ever seen such a dreadful driver pairing in its entire history. But only becuase Paul Dumbrell and David Besnard have never been paired up together.

Backmarker · Post by **Backmarker** » 12 Nov 2012, 15:22

Get looking down the back of the cushions of your settee, it seems that HRT is for sale! Hopefully they will find a buyer - and hopefully one who will get rid of their A1GP-a-riffic name.

solarcold · Post by **solarcold** » 12 Nov 2012, 16:09

HRT is a stunning team name, hope they never change it.

GwilymJJames · Post by **GwilymJJames** » 12 Nov 2012, 16:13

HRTF1Team wrote:The current owners of HRT Formula 1 Team, TC II S.a.rl., would like to confirm that they are currently in talks with a number of groups interested in buying the team. HRT Formula 1 Team’s current management hopes to conclude the sale in the upcoming weeks and, with it, enable the team to continue progressing and become a reference in modern-day Formula 1 after the important achievements already accomplished in this 2012 season. HRT Formula 1 Team hopes to communicate the name of its new owner in the upcoming weeks.

According to the HRT Formula 1 Team management, "we believe the moment to let new investors come through for HRT Formula 1 Team has arrived. We’re very proud of the work done by the entire team and of the excellent sporting evolution achieved but the time has come for the team to continue growing with new financial backing. We’re convinced that the sporting potential of the team is huge and that the presence of new investors can give it a big boost”.

"TC II S.a.rl"? Oh, they're owned by Top Cat.

pi314159 · Post by **pi314159** » 12 Nov 2012, 16:18

I hope they find a new Investor soon who actually puts some money into the team. As they actually showed some potential mid-season, when they were close to the Marussias (and sometimes even ahead of them). But if they have another turbulent off-season, I think they would be more off the pace then before.

dinizintheoven · Post by **dinizintheoven** » 12 Nov 2012, 18:35

So, who was it who said HRT might end up as a Chinese team? Let the bets commence on when it'll happen...

DanielPT · Post by **DanielPT** » 12 Nov 2012, 19:00

dinizintheoven wrote:So, who was it who said HRT might end up as a Chinese team? Let the bets commence on when it'll happen...

Chinese? Nope. I don't see it happen. In fact I bet that it is the Greek government that will take over following their recent appetite for F1 and a new circuit. They have been gathering small parts of all the money Germany borrowed them just with the goal of buying HRT. Obviously that Germany will become unhappy after learning this, which will all go away when they learn that the Greeks are commissioning the chassis to a certain factory in Germany, run by a well known Romanian. The only problem to all these Greek plans are the fact that they pretend to run PURE's v6s. This might force Merkel to revive Gumpert in order to for them to outsource engines for their cars and give them enough work and money to finish their F1 project.

You heard it here first! :lol:

cbbcisace · Post by **cbbcisace** » 12 Nov 2012, 19:02

Its either Chinese or Middle Eastern Owners...

Barwa Addax anyone?

Or TATA buy the team and Narain becomes lead driver :shock:

flyerguy · Post by **flyerguy** » 12 Nov 2012, 20:44

Hurry, Warren Buffett! This is Don Pentecost's chance!

AndreaModa · Post by **AndreaModa** » 12 Nov 2012, 22:58

I would put a not too insignificant amount of money on the team becoming a Team Abu Dhabi/Dubai/Qatar (delete as appropriate) in a similar vein to the teams established in F1 Powerboats. That is, if the FIA allows such names, I'm not sure on the protocol to be honest. It definitely won't be a European buyer, unless it comes from an existing established team, backed up with money from a company, which itself would probably be Middle Eastern anyway. It's a bit of a shame really, but clever work from Thesan Capital, and a prime example of venture capitalists at work. They've invested a bit, got the team settled with a factory and some solid foundations, and now they're going to flog them on. I'm assuming they must be looking to make a profit of some sort rather than sell the team at a loss.

Jocke1 · Post by **Jocke1** » 13 Nov 2012, 14:59

Zetec · Post by **Zetec** » 13 Nov 2012, 15:38

Well, HRT had dismissed 32 employees, "El Confidencial" reports. :shock:

On the other hand, HRT are still hiring: http://www.hrtf1team.com/en/ofertas-de-empleo/

I'm confused... :lol:

S951 · Post by **S951** » 13 Nov 2012, 15:58

Super HRT F1 Team?

GwilymJJames · Post by **GwilymJJames** » 13 Nov 2012, 17:17

Zetec wrote:Well, HRT had dismissed 32 employees, "El Confidencial" reports.
On the other hand, HRT are still hiring: http://www.hrtf1team.com/en/ofertas-de-empleo/

I'm confused...

They have taken the Team Members link off the top banner. Still exists though.

solarcold · Post by **solarcold** » 13 Nov 2012, 17:35

Will Luis-Perez Sala stay? Hope positive.

Gerudo Dragon · Post by **Gerudo Dragon** » 13 Nov 2012, 18:20

I hope Lord Hesketh buys it and calls it Hesketh Racing Team.

S951 · Post by **S951** » 13 Nov 2012, 19:01

Jarno Trulli F1 team? Where the true trulli train is?

UncreativeUsername37 · Post by **UncreativeUsername37** » 13 Nov 2012, 19:25

Maybe Prost will return to the sport!

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 14 Nov 2012, 05:57

Here's a slightly bizarre theory that I heard about HRT. I picked it up from a member of the F1 Fanatic blog: namely, that Kazakhstan will get involved in HRT next year.

The president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, was spotted at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, despite having never expressed any interest in Formula 1 before. Nobody seems to know exactly what he was there for, only that he was there. As president, Nazarbayev oversees the Astana Group (named for the capital), an umbrella corporation representing the interests of all state-owned enterprises in Kazakhstan. They are no strangers to sports sponsorship either, backing Team Astana. Significantly, they also have a presence in motorsport:

That's Daniel Juncadella, who won this year's Formula 3 Euroseries, FIA European F3 Championship and the Masters of Formula 3 at Zandvoort, and is the defending champion of the Macau Grand Prix (he is also returning this year). He also recently tested for Ferrari as his prize for winning the Euroseries, and is the nephew of HRT team principal Luiz Perez-Sala.

It's unlikely that Kazakhstan will buy into HRT - but if they are willing to commit sponsorship through Juncadella, they could go a long way to securing the team's future. Juncadella has an excellent resume, connections to government-backed sponsorship, and with no word on Cosworth's 2014 plans, his Ferrari test could pave the way for a customer engine deal. All of this would go a long way towards securing the team's future, and could therefore make the team more attractive to potential buyers.

David AGS · Post by **David AGS** » 14 Nov 2012, 07:57

I hope there is a buyer out there. If not, there is a chance that the team wont be on the grid next year, which would be a shame.

They seem positive according to their media statements, but they aint going to say we are for sale but no negotiations have taken place.

We shall see.

Post by **mario** » 14 Nov 2012, 08:10

David AGS wrote:I hope there is a buyer out there. If not, there is a chance that the team wont be on the grid next year, which would be a shame.

They seem positive according to their media statements, but they aint going to say we are for sale but no negotiations have taken place.

We shall see.

It would be tragically ironic if the team were to collapse at what should be the most stable time for this team, given the investment in new facilities and the acquisition of more sponsors than they have had in the past. I do hope that whoever buys the team has a stronger interest in the long term future of the team and the sport than most of their previous owners, because it would be sad to see them go.

Jocke1 · Post by **Jocke1** » 14 Nov 2012, 09:31

Everyone, do not worry your heads.

Michael Schumacher will personally buy the team (his own fortune is enough to purchase HRT and also run it for many years to come, without the involvement of ANY sponsors).
He will keep on Karthikeyan as number 1, and as a fine gesture to his old comrade who endlessly fought in the trenches for him, he will sign on Luca Badoer for a three-year lucrative contract as number 2 driver. It is going to be announced before the Texas weekend, just you see.

David AGS · Post by **David AGS** » 14 Nov 2012, 09:44

There is a link.

Now help me with names but M$ old physio or personal trainer dude (The Indian bloke!) is doing the same with Karthikeyan.

TATA also backs Ferrari (or at least they did!)

Ferrim · Post by **Ferrim** » 14 Nov 2012, 11:33

The Kazakhstani link is an interesting one, indeed. Kazakhstan is the kind of country that could spend big money in this kind of project, as they are already doing in other sports through the Astana brand. The country is led, as Captain Hammer as said, by Nursultan Nazarbayev, who is basically ruling as a dictator - the guy is in power since before the Soviet Union was dissolved!

Jocke1 · Post by **Jocke1** » 14 Nov 2012, 11:45

David AGS wrote:There is a link.

Now help me with names but M$ old physio or personal trainer dude (The Indian bloke!) is doing the same with Karthikeyan.

TATA also backs Ferrari (or at least they did!)

Balbir Singh.

Aerospeed · Post by **Aerospeed** » 14 Nov 2012, 12:07

Just one question: How many times can this team be bought and sold in a five-year span?? :?:

solarcold · Post by **solarcold** » 14 Nov 2012, 12:08

Oh, Nursultan Nazarbaev. Know this guy. He might be a dictator but certainly not the most cruel one

Would be nice if they sponsored HRT... But renaming HRT to Astana is not a good option =\