Stefan GP progress

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 31 Jan 2010, 21:36

Yes, Prodrive tried to buy Renault, but Renault chose Genii. The Genii option would allow them to delay a final decision: they could race under the Renault name and managed by Genii for a year or two, and once the economic situation resolved itself, Renault could then choose to either buy the team back or sell the rest of it.

Shortly after that, Dave Richards came out and said that Formula 1 is "not relevant" anymore. I'm taking that to mean "We just tried to get onto the grid for the fourth time and failed again, so we're going to act as if we don't care about it; see ya, losers!"

FloProAct · Post by **FloProAct** » 01 Feb 2010, 08:05

AndreaModa wrote:Theres a new GP3 team, I think they're called Status or something like that, they've announced recently they want to move up into F1 in the future. That sort of talk is bound to change if half of the new teams entering in 2010 can't even make it to the first race.

Yeah, Status Grand Prix. I think that's a bit optimistic considering all they've done previously is run Team Ireland and Team Canada in A1GP.

Klon · Post by **Klon** » 02 Feb 2010, 19:13

Stefan Grand Prix are going to Bahrain

They are indeed doing it. This is going to be absolutely awesome, no matter if they actually get on the grid or not.

shinji · Post by **shinji** » 02 Feb 2010, 19:14

Klon wrote:Stefan Grand Prix are going to Bahrain

They are indeed doing it. This is going to be absolutely awesome, no matter if they actually get on the grid or not.

HUZZAH!

I'm going too! With my mum's Alfa! Let's all go!

Valrys · Post by **Valrys** » 02 Feb 2010, 19:17

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81219

Hmm, be good to see the Stefan GP in action, as surely Toyota will have made a handy chassis. Just hoping some photographers venture down there and get some snaps of the car, see if they're running any sponsers, or if they have a 2nd driver lined up

Klon · Post by **Klon** » 02 Feb 2010, 19:19

shinji wrote:
Klon wrote:Stefan Grand Prix are going to Bahrain

They are indeed doing it. This is going to be absolutely awesome, no matter if they actually get on the grid or not.

HUZZAH!

I'm going too! With my mum's Alfa! Let's all go!

Why not? We're going to slaughter out that Alfa for parts like Gearbox etc. then have our more talented members build a cheap copy of the Life W12 ... and BAM! We have or F1 Rejects-Team. :mrgreen:

We would only need someone crazy enough to drive it.

noisebox · Post by **noisebox** » 02 Feb 2010, 19:24

They're going to test as well... I lifted this from their website - who is the driver??

StefanGP planing to go to Portimao for first tests

First tests for StefanGP will be in Portugal at Portimao test track, on 25-28 February 2010.

StefanGP first Formula 1 car Stefan S-01 will be presented before tests.

Car: Stefan S-01.

Car is developed by StefanGP and with technical supports from TMG.

Engine: Stefan RG-01.

V8, 2,400 ccm, 18,000 rpm, serviced by TMG.

SGP Team will be testing with two drivers over three days.

Identity of drivers will be announced in due course.

First driver has already two years in F1.

Many Blue Flags · Post by **Many Blue Flags** » 02 Feb 2010, 19:33

It's Nakajima, according to Autosport:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81219

LucaPacchiarini · Post by **LucaPacchiarini** » 02 Feb 2010, 19:40

noisebox wrote:They're going to test as well... I lifted this from their website - who is the driver??

StefanGP planing to go to Portimao for first tests

First tests for StefanGP will be in Portugal at Portimao test track, on 25-28 February 2010.

StefanGP first Formula 1 car Stefan S-01 will be presented before tests.

Car: Stefan S-01.

Car is developed by StefanGP and with technical supports from TMG.

Engine: Stefan RG-01.

V8, 2,400 ccm, 18,000 rpm, serviced by TMG.

SGP Team will be testing with two drivers over three days.

Identity of drivers will be announced in due course.

First driver has already two years in F1.

Bourdais?

Nakajima?

Monteiro?

Speed?

Piquet Jr? :shock:

AndreaModa · Post by **AndreaModa** » 02 Feb 2010, 19:43

Yeah it's pretty much certain to be Nakajima with his links to Toyota, plus its an easy way for Stefan to get their hands on an experienced F1 driver, albeit not a very good one!

I think what they've done is a very smart thing, they're clearly serious about it, and I just hope the FIA play ball and let them race. Why allow two teams who are likely to not even finish the season race when there's a guaranteed team with cars, engines and at least one driver waiting in the wings?

I'm also expecting something from Lola within the next few weeks if USF1 and Campos fail to show up. Wouldn't surprise me if they gear up for an entry in 2011.

Bit of a downer for Cosworth though if Campos and USF1 really do go belly up. With Virgin re-branding their engines that will only leave Williams and Lotus running branded Cosworth power in 2010...

LucaPacchiarini · Post by **LucaPacchiarini** » 02 Feb 2010, 19:44

That's great... it's a pirate team :twisted:

Bernie doesnt want them but they're going to the first race anyway :lol:

but if a team retires as I think, Bernie will have to accept them... and Stefan's perseverance will be rewarded.

And for everyone looking fo pics of the Stefan F1, you only have to look up "awesome" in the dictionary

Post by **mario** » 02 Feb 2010, 19:49

Damn, it looks like Many Blue Flags has beaten me to it, but it is indeed Nakajima who will be the first driver signed for Stefan GP.
To be honest, it was predictable - given that Toyota is giving Stefan GP quite a bit of help, along with the use of it's facilities, engines and ex-personnel (so they are dealing with the transition quite well - unlike BMW or Honda, they are actually going to continue helping the new owners behind the scenes), Toyota were bound to ask for something in return.
OK, so Nakajima isn't exactly the greatest driver in the world - but, having a driver who has driven an F1 car before, and will have plenty of experience with the ex-Toyota staff and the TF109, on which the TF110/Stefan RG-01 is based, will help them out. Besides, if it ensures support from Toyota, at a time when other new teams are looking precarious, that won't be a bad thing.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 02 Feb 2010, 20:08

Already posted in other threads, but I thought I would keep this thread updated and alive...

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81219

Stefan GP are to test in the last week of February, have got Kazuki Nakajima signed up as a driver AND they will be in Bahrain!!!

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 02 Feb 2010, 20:19

dr-baker wrote:Already posted in other threads, but I thought I would keep this thread updated and alive...

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81219

Stefan GP are to test in the last week of February, have got Kazuki Nakajima signed up as a driver AND they will be in Bahrain!!!

Carrying the stuff there means the sort of financial commitment that would put them on the radar. Or maybe not. But at least it would be guaranteed to give Bernie a stroke.

Phoenix · Post by **Phoenix** » 02 Feb 2010, 20:34

mario wrote:Damn, it looks like Many Blue Flags has beaten me to it, but it is indeed Nakajima who will be the first driver signed for Stefan GP.
To be honest, it was predictable - given that Toyota is giving Stefan GP quite a bit of help, along with the use of it's facilities, engines and ex-personnel (so they are dealing with the transition quite well - unlike BMW or Honda, they are actually going to continue helping the new owners behind the scenes), Toyota were bound to ask for something in return.
OK, so Nakajima isn't exactly the greatest driver in the world - but, having a driver who has driven an F1 car before, and will have plenty of experience with the ex-Toyota staff and the TF109, on which the TF110/Stefan RG-01 is based, will help them out. Besides, if it ensures support from Toyota, at a time when other new teams are looking precarious, that won't be a bad thing.

Did Nakajima ever touch a TF109?

Post by **DemocalypseNow** » 02 Feb 2010, 20:37

Wait a minute...they are announcing a driver with two years F1 experience.

HWNSNBM is back

Phoenix · Post by **Phoenix** » 02 Feb 2010, 20:41

STEFAN!

Phoenix · Post by **Phoenix** » 02 Feb 2010, 20:43

kostas22 wrote:Wait a minute...they are announcing a driver with two years F1 experience.

HWNSNBM is back

Nah...he has to keep his anonimate.

Pieman · Post by **Pieman** » 02 Feb 2010, 20:48

http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/ ... lara-deal/

Anyone know more on this? Could this lead to acrimony of the eve of Bahrain?

noisebox · Post by **noisebox** » 02 Feb 2010, 20:54

LucaPacchiarini wrote:That's great... it's a pirate team Bernie doesnt want them but they're going to the first race anyway but if a team retires as I think, Bernie will have to accept them... and Stefan's perseverance will be rewarded.

And for everyone looking fo pics of the Stefan F1, you only have to look up "awesome" in the dictionary

I think it's safe to say that Bernie does want them - otherwise they'd be dead in the water already. The interesting twist is that they may buyout the dallara deal with Campos. That would give them two different cars!

noisebox · Post by **noisebox** » 02 Feb 2010, 20:55

CarlosFerreira wrote:
dr-baker wrote:Already posted in other threads, but I thought I would keep this thread updated and alive...

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81219

Stefan GP are to test in the last week of February, have got Kazuki Nakajima signed up as a driver AND they will be in Bahrain!!!

Carrying the stuff there means the sort of financial commitment that would put them on the radar. Or maybe not. But at least it would be guaranteed to give Bernie a stroke.

Without a shadow of a doubt, Bernie is in on this.

noisebox · Post by **noisebox** » 02 Feb 2010, 21:02

Apologies if this has already been posted - but their press release about going to Bahrain is magnificent...

Stefan Grand Prix writes history! SGP becomes the first team in F1 history who did send a 40 foot container full of equipment to the race in Bahrain without having entry for 2010 season!

On Friday 29-th January we showed our spirit, and how serious our management and our employees are when they say that we are pushing to get the entry, and that they want to race in 2010 season.

Anyway we are proud of us, and on our power of will, so we will keep going and show some new people belong in F1.

Also, this way we would like to thank our dear friends for the level of their professionalism and spirit. So: Phil, Johannes, Mike, Markus, Dirk, Guido, Theresa, Ruediger, Markus, Juergen, and everybody else THANK YOU! You make our dream come true!

fjackdaw · Post by **fjackdaw** » 02 Feb 2010, 21:02

"Half Schumacher" I think was already Damon Hill's nickname for Ralf anyway...

WeirdKerr · Post by **WeirdKerr** » 02 Feb 2010, 21:07

HWNSNBM and Nakajima would be a great line up.......and im gonna enter a team too..... gonna drive car(im 35) and a workmate of mine(23) will drive the other

Collieafc · Post by **Collieafc** » 02 Feb 2010, 21:08

Well, knowing Bernie, maybe he knows for certain at least one team cant make it to Bahrain and has tipped Stefan GP to go testing "just in case?" Faking it as Stefan GP being bullish makes sense, as if nobody falls, then F1 isnt oversubscribed and the FIA dont look stupid. If a team drops, another prepared one can step in immediately.

Thats the Bernie way...

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 02 Feb 2010, 21:10

noisebox wrote:Apologies if this has already been posted - but their press release about going to Bahrain is magnificent...

Stefan Grand Prix writes history! SGP becomes the first team in F1 history who did send a 40 foot container full of equipment to the race in Bahrain without having entry for 2010 season!

On Friday 29-th January we showed our spirit, and how serious our management and our employees are when they say that we are pushing to get the entry, and that they want to race in 2010 season.

Anyway we are proud of us, and on our power of will, so we will keep going and show some new people belong in F1.

Also, this way we would like to thank our dear friends for the level of their professionalism and spirit. So: Phil, Johannes, Mike, Markus, Dirk, Guido, Theresa, Ruediger, Markus, Juergen, and everybody else THANK YOU! You make our dream come true!

Oh man, oh man, oh man. Are they serious? Is it Bernie who's behind this? Is this a joke?

Post by **mario** » 02 Feb 2010, 21:14

Phoenix wrote:
mario wrote:Damn, it looks like Many Blue Flags has beaten me to it, but it is indeed Nakajima who will be the first driver signed for Stefan GP.
To be honest, it was predictable - given that Toyota is giving Stefan GP quite a bit of help, along with the use of it's facilities, engines and ex-personnel (so they are dealing with the transition quite well - unlike BMW or Honda, they are actually going to continue helping the new owners behind the scenes), Toyota were bound to ask for something in return.
OK, so Nakajima isn't exactly the greatest driver in the world - but, having a driver who has driven an F1 car before, and will have plenty of experience with the ex-Toyota staff and the TF109, on which the TF110/Stefan RG-01 is based, will help them out. Besides, if it ensures support from Toyota, at a time when other new teams are looking precarious, that won't be a bad thing.

Did Nakajima ever touch a TF109?

Sorry, pure and simple mistake from me - for some reason, I confused the engine and chassis names. What I meant was the RVX-09 engine and the RVX-10/RG-01. :oops:

Still, it'll be interesting how the car stacks up compared to the rest - the Toyota engine was down on power, but was supposed to be fairly economical, so the car probably would have a pretty small tank compared to the rest of the field.

Pieman wrote:http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-has-stefan-gp-killed-campos-with-dallara-deal/

Anyone know more on this? Could this lead to acrimony of the eve of Bahrain?

Interesting - it was rumoured that Stefan did try to buy the entry Campos had for 2010, but Campos demanded such a high price that he refused. Now, this way, if the story is true, they can force the FIA to withdraw the Campos entry and put in their own bid, and all potentially at a lower cost. Meanwhile, doing so ensures that Bernie can keep the grid well stocked.
Do the words "conspiracy theorists, stand up" need to be uttered?

AndreaModa · Post by **AndreaModa** » 02 Feb 2010, 21:23

Haha I just love the horrendous translation! This looks like a classic reject press release to me!

thehemogoblin · Post by **thehemogoblin** » 02 Feb 2010, 21:30

AndreaModa wrote:Haha I just love the horrendous translation! This looks like a classic reject press release to me!

I knew they should have hired Shinji.

eytl · Post by **eytl** » 02 Feb 2010, 23:30

Peoples, I've merged the two Stefan GP threads so that we can have one "Super Stefan" section (yes, that was deliberate).

I've gotta say, this story is brewing nicely on the sidelines while testing kicks off, isn't it? Nice to see someone testing outside of the official sessions, and at Portimao as well - awesome track. And, as some of you have hinted, the fact that this is all going on unchecked - including their commitment to going to Bahrain - does suggest that the powers-that-be have given their stamp of approval.

In answer to the question, are they a better prospect than USF1 and Campos right now ... you've gotta say yes.

SuperAguri · Post by **SuperAguri** » 02 Feb 2010, 23:42

I think the FIA do need to do a health check on all the teams, esp the 4 new ones and Sauber to make sure they have the money to compete a whole season as there will be much egg on face if one or two of them fail to show up or pull out mid season.

Stefan do seem to have the car, staff and even driver so if they can show they have the money to compete a full season in F1 and Campos can't then maybe the FIA should have a long hard think about dropping Campos or at least forcing them to sell to Stefan. Just think Senna and Nakajima, now when were those two names together in the past?

The only fly in the ointment is the fact that Dallara probably haven't been paid by Campos and it would be sad to see Dallara leave F1 before the chassis rolled onto the track, but the Toyota chassis is likely to be faster....

Waris · Post by **Waris** » 02 Feb 2010, 23:56

It's weird that the Stefan driver is now "rumored" to be Nakajima, while Zoran Stefanovic has already said that if they get an entry, Nakajima will be one of the drivers.

Henrique · Post by **Henrique** » 03 Feb 2010, 01:37

Since Portimão is in Portugal, the story about Stefan testing there is currently the main article on the Portuguese Autosport site (I'm so proud). They also say it's very likely that the second driver will be Nick Heidfeld.

AndreaModa · Post by **AndreaModa** » 03 Feb 2010, 01:47

Blimey, forgetting the terrible season that Nakajima has just had, Stefan would have a stellar line up there for a new team.

Heidfeld and Nakajima. Almost as good as the Trulli/Kovalainen line up at Lotus! :lol:

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 03 Feb 2010, 04:59

Henrique wrote:They also say it's very likely that the second driver will be Nick Heidfeld.

Heidfeld's name has only come up in conjunction with the team from fans who don't want to see him fade into obscurity. Stefan are in no position to go talking about second drivers.

razta · Post by **razta** » 03 Feb 2010, 06:19

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2010/02/s ... mpos-neck/

They have also made two interesting hirings; last year they recruited designer Mike Coughlan, who was at the heart of the McLaren spy scandal of 2007 and also former McLaren sporting director Dave Ryan, who was ousted last season following Lewis Hamilton’s episode of lying to the race stewards in Melbourne.

Notwithstanding the Melbourne episode, Ryan is one of the most experienced and respected figures in F1 with a pedigree stretching back to James Hunt’s days.

An experienced hand like Ryan will know the difficulties of getting freight out to early Grands Prix, something some of the other top teams are grappling with as they get up to speed on how F1 works.

Paul Hayes · Post by **Paul Hayes** » 03 Feb 2010, 09:10

It's rapidly looking as if it's going to turn into a different sort of race - whoever gets their car to Bahrain in a run-able condition can take part!

karsten · Post by **karsten** » 03 Feb 2010, 10:57

SuperAguri wrote:The only fly in the ointment is the fact that Dallara probably haven't been paid by Campos and it would be sad to see Dallara leave F1 before the chassis rolled onto the track, but the Toyota chassis is likely to be faster....

I strongly doubt it

in any case, go stefan gp! :!:

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 03 Feb 2010, 11:57

Reports are beginning to emerge suggesting that Campos owes so much to Dallara that Dallara have put the intelectual property rights on the car up for sale and Stefan have purcased them - it doesn't guarantee them a place on the grid, but it would mean Campos is dead.

However, I'm not going to go beleiving these reports just yet.

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 03 Feb 2010, 12:07

Captain Hammer wrote:Reports are beginning to emerge suggesting that Campos owes so much to Dallara that Dallara have put the intelectual property rights on the car up for sale and Stefan have purcased them - it doesn't guarantee them a place on the grid, but it would mean Campos is dead.

However, I'm not going to go beleiving these reports just yet.

Me either, though Dallara being annoyed with Campos doesn't surprise me, why would Stefan buy them, considering they already have the Toyota designs?