Stefan GP progress

Henrique · Post by **Henrique** » 18 Feb 2010, 20:08

They wrote this 5 hours ago on their Twitter:

"The US F1 Team web server is down and is being repaired as this is written. We are not gone, as many have reported. More news soon."

Phoenix · Post by **Phoenix** » 18 Feb 2010, 20:17

Henrique wrote:They wrote this 5 hours ago on their Twitter:

"The US F1 Team web server is down and is being repaired as this is written. We are not gone, as many have reported. More news soon."

Repaired? What a lame excuse for their departure.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 18 Feb 2010, 20:50

AndreaModa wrote:ESPN are onto the USF1 funeral procession...

http://en.espnf1.com/teamus/motorsport/story/9004.html

nevermind missing the first three races, they're not even going to have a finished car when this has all gone through. Its a big shame though its easy to see why they were chosen as new entrants - the crash.net article talks about the team being the first american entry since the beatrice attempt in the 80s. There is always a reason for things and why are there no F1 teams in arguably the richest country in the world? Motorsport is massive in America so why shouldn't it work? Thats a question for another day but there was a precedent which USF1 have ignored, and whilst admirable, the decision to do it all in the US was a mistake. The FIA selected USF1 on this one fact. The harsh reality however is that the expertise, the money and the facilities are in Europe which surprise surprise, is where everyone else is located.

Guys who are saying that they wanted to enter F1 even before the budget cap - how on earth would they have managed that if they can't even do it now? Virgin have done it with £40 million and were only 3 seconds off Barrichello's obviously low fuel lap today in Jerez.

Now lets just hope Stefan get given the entry to fill, especially seeing as now Campos are on the road to recovery it seems.

They said, "There also rumours that US F1's only confirmed driver Jose Maria Lopez has also started looking elsewhere. A source close to Lopez admitted to the Argentine press: "Maybe this is for the best and 'Pechito' [Lopez] ends in a car running better than the USF1."

What, this suggests that USF1 has a car that actually runs, albeit poorly...?!?!?!

Phoenix · Post by **Phoenix** » 18 Feb 2010, 21:48

dr-baker wrote:
AndreaModa wrote:ESPN are onto the USF1 funeral procession...

http://en.espnf1.com/teamus/motorsport/story/9004.html

nevermind missing the first three races, they're not even going to have a finished car when this has all gone through. Its a big shame though its easy to see why they were chosen as new entrants - the crash.net article talks about the team being the first american entry since the beatrice attempt in the 80s. There is always a reason for things and why are there no F1 teams in arguably the richest country in the world? Motorsport is massive in America so why shouldn't it work? Thats a question for another day but there was a precedent which USF1 have ignored, and whilst admirable, the decision to do it all in the US was a mistake. The FIA selected USF1 on this one fact. The harsh reality however is that the expertise, the money and the facilities are in Europe which surprise surprise, is where everyone else is located.

Guys who are saying that they wanted to enter F1 even before the budget cap - how on earth would they have managed that if they can't even do it now? Virgin have done it with £40 million and were only 3 seconds off Barrichello's obviously low fuel lap today in Jerez.

Now lets just hope Stefan get given the entry to fill, especially seeing as now Campos are on the road to recovery it seems.

They said, "There also rumours that US F1's only confirmed driver Jose Maria Lopez has also started looking elsewhere. A source close to Lopez admitted to the Argentine press: "Maybe this is for the best and 'Pechito' [Lopez] ends in a car running better than the USF1."

What, this suggests that USF1 has a car that actually runs, albeit poorly...?!?!?!

Probably it was only a way of speaking-they're not as clever to hide the fact they actually have a car and only want to reveal it on Bahrein's eve to put a surprise out of the hat. Plus, FIA would have known that already...

eytl · Post by **eytl** » 18 Feb 2010, 22:17

USF1 seems to be going down the path of Berta:

http://8w.forix.com/berta.html

Ironic given that there's an Argentinian link to USF1 as well ...

Henrique · Post by **Henrique** » 19 Feb 2010, 16:09

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81593

It's alive. It's alive!

And Nakajima is in

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 19 Feb 2010, 17:50

Henrique wrote:http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81593

It's alive. It's alive!

And Nakajima is in

And here's the full interview with Zoran: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81594

madcat · Post by **madcat** » 22 Feb 2010, 09:06

I know this is an old image, but there is something of a "Mine is bigger than yours USF1" about it....

"Can you touch yours? Can you? I didn't think so..." (Best read in a Cartman voice)

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 22 Feb 2010, 17:52

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81642

Stefan GP was preparing to go testing next week (unlike either US F1 or Campos Meta...!!!) but had to cancel it over something as mundane as not having any rubber. (If they were Virgin, they would have no need to use any rubbers.

) And confirming that Villeneuve is close to being their second driver (as rumoured elsewhere on this forum). I only they had an entry, they would be testing already - looks bad for US and Campos. Jean Todt, please, please, PLEASE give these guys an entry!!!!

rffp · Post by **rffp** » 22 Feb 2010, 18:23

dr-baker wrote:http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81642

Stefan GP was preparing to go testing next week (unlike either US F1 or Campos Meta...!!!) but had to cancel it over something as mundane as not having any rubber. (If they were Virgin, they would have no need to use any rubbers. ) And confirming that Villeneuve is close to being their second driver (as rumoured elsewhere on this forum). I only they had an entry, they would be testing already - looks bad for US and Campos. Jean Todt, please, please, PLEASE give these guys an entry!!!!

Absolutely regrettable! This is a FIA plot to sabotage Stefan GP! :shock:

Klon · Post by **Klon** » 22 Feb 2010, 19:33

Yes, I'm seriously disappointed in both the FIA and in Bridgestone (expecially them seeing as it's just stupid - guys, money is money!). But on another interesting note: Villeneuve has downplayed his connection to Stefanovich. This may very well be "a F1 denial", i.e. the confirmation, but of course there still that small light of hope for Ralf Schumacher in 2010...

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 22 Feb 2010, 19:46

dr-baker wrote:http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81642

Stefan GP was preparing to go testing next week (unlike either US F1 or Campos Meta...!!!) but had to cancel it over something as mundane as not having any rubber. (If they were Virgin, they would have no need to use any rubbers. ) And confirming that Villeneuve is close to being their second driver (as rumoured elsewhere on this forum). I only they had an entry, they would be testing already - looks bad for US and Campos. Jean Todt, please, please, PLEASE give these guys an entry!!!!

Am I the only one who thinks there is no StefanGP, and there would be no test anyway? All they have is a car clad in last year's Toyota stickers!

Phoenix · Post by **Phoenix** » 22 Feb 2010, 19:48

Klon wrote:Yes, I'm seriously disappointed in both the FIA and in Bridgestone (expecially them seeing as it's just stupid - guys, money is money!). But on another interesting note: Villeneuve has downplayed his connection to Stefanovich. This may very well be "a F1 denial", i.e. the confirmation, but of course there still that small light of hope for Ralf Schumacher in 2010...

Even if Stefan has still no entry, he should stick to them and sign. I don't want Villeneuve to return to F1, but this is his last chance. If he's not fast Stefan may hire another driver and he could lose his opportunity if Stefan is finally given the entry-we never know with the FIA. And, of course, better to see him driving than singing.

rffp · Post by **rffp** » 22 Feb 2010, 19:58

CarlosFerreira wrote:Am I the only one who thinks there is no StefanGP, and there would be no test anyway? All they have is a car clad in last year's Toyota stickers!

That is an interesting thought. So, what have they sent to Bahrein?

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 22 Feb 2010, 20:05

rffp wrote:
CarlosFerreira wrote:Am I the only one who thinks there is no StefanGP, and there would be no test anyway? All they have is a car clad in last year's Toyota stickers!

That is an interesting thought. So, what have they sent to Bahrein?

Rocks? Cement? A treasured shipment of Sefan's old socks? The car they'll sell to either Campos or USF1 in the merger?

Post by **mario** » 22 Feb 2010, 22:20

CarlosFerreira wrote:
rffp wrote:
CarlosFerreira wrote:Am I the only one who thinks there is no StefanGP, and there would be no test anyway? All they have is a car clad in last year's Toyota stickers!

That is an interesting thought. So, what have they sent to Bahrein?

Rocks? Cement? A treasured shipment of Sefan's old socks? The car they'll sell to either Campos or USF1 in the merger?

It also shows that there is a big gulf between wanting to be in F1 and actually being in F1. The problem of supplies of things like tyres had been pointed out from the start; Bridgestone can only supply F1 spec tyres to teams with official entries, and although Stefan could use GP2 spec compounds for testing purposes, since they are markedly different in their construction and compound type, they would be effectively useless for data acquisition purposes.
As for what they have actually sent out to Bahrein, god only knows whether it actually contains anything for the TF110/SGP-01, or just scrap parts which they sent out to Bahrein in the hope of trying to force the hand of the FIA to give them an entry by making it look as if they are capable of racing.

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 22 Feb 2010, 22:25

mario wrote:As for what they have actually sent out to Bahrein, god only knows whether it actually contains anything for the TF110/SGP-01, or just scrap parts which they sent out to Bahrein in the hope of trying to force the hand of the FIA to give them an entry by making it look as if they are capable of racing.

There, on the money.

Post by **mario** » 22 Feb 2010, 22:44

CarlosFerreira wrote:
mario wrote:As for what they have actually sent out to Bahrein, god only knows whether it actually contains anything for the TF110/SGP-01, or just scrap parts which they sent out to Bahrein in the hope of trying to force the hand of the FIA to give them an entry by making it look as if they are capable of racing.

There, on the money.

And it is quite amusing that you've used that phrase considering that there seems to be a conspicuous lack of money for both USF1 and (potentially) Stefan GP...

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 22 Feb 2010, 22:54

mario wrote:
CarlosFerreira wrote:
mario wrote:As for what they have actually sent out to Bahrein, god only knows whether it actually contains anything for the TF110/SGP-01, or just scrap parts which they sent out to Bahrein in the hope of trying to force the hand of the FIA to give them an entry by making it look as if they are capable of racing.

There, on the money.

And it is quite amusing that you've used that phrase considering that there seems to be a conspicuous lack of money for both USF1 and (potentially) Stefan GP...

That's been my point about Stefan all along. I seriously believe their intention is to be paid for the intellectual property of the car and engine. I wonder however - why are Toyota collaborating with this?

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 23 Feb 2010, 10:59

One thought, which I hope someone can answer: could Stefan have bought some old tyres from the recent Jerez or Valencia test (from maybe one of the teams that did less mileage) to go testing on?

madcat · Post by **madcat** » 23 Feb 2010, 11:13

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81651

With this approach from Ferrari towards Stefan, I am now quite sure that they won't be participating in 2010.

fjackdaw · Post by **fjackdaw** » 23 Feb 2010, 11:31

madcat wrote:http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81651

With this approach from Ferrari towards Stefan, I am now quite sure that they won't be participating in 2010.

I think this is a particular columnist, rather than Ferrari policy.

madcat · Post by **madcat** » 23 Feb 2010, 11:48

We'll see, I'd bet a whole 2 British pence that they don't. If they were serious someone (Bernie) would have helped get tyres, etc. This will be giving Stefan good publicity though...

rffp · Post by **rffp** » 23 Feb 2010, 13:19

BTW, Ralf is out of the picture.
I just read that he will be a commentator for 2010. Anyone knows for what station he will be commenting?

Phoenix · Post by **Phoenix** » 23 Feb 2010, 14:59

CarlosFerreira wrote:I wonder however - why are Toyota collaborating with this?

Because they bought their design and have agreed to keep Nakajima as a driver. There, on the money, like you say :mrgreen:

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 23 Feb 2010, 15:10

Phoenix wrote:
CarlosFerreira wrote:I wonder however - why are Toyota collaborating with this?

Because they bought their design and have agreed to keep Nakajima as a driver. There, on the money, like you say

Good: re-couping some of the investment in the car.
Bad: being somehow associated with StefanGP.

Not so much on the money...

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 24 Feb 2010, 01:51

rffp wrote:Anyone knows for what station he will be commenting?

The third-best one, no doubt.

LionZoo · Post by **LionZoo** » 24 Feb 2010, 03:30

dr-baker wrote:One thought, which I hope someone can answer: could Stefan have bought some old tyres from the recent Jerez or Valencia test (from maybe one of the teams that did less mileage) to go testing on?

I think the tires are leased and have to be returned to Bridgestone.

bduddy · Post by **bduddy** » 24 Feb 2010, 04:07

madcat wrote:http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81651

With this approach from Ferrari towards Stefan, I am now quite sure that they won't be participating in 2010.

Who, Ferrari? :lol:

As long as Bernie is fond of them, they're not out of the picture...

Stefangp · Post by **Stefangp** » 24 Feb 2010, 09:01

I know it's taking a picture from my own site, but I found this a few days ago in the depths of the inter-web. Kinda reminds me of Alex Zanardi's last CART car. As I've said before, it needs to be pure Serbian Red don't you think?

karsten · Post by **karsten** » 24 Feb 2010, 10:55

please not a shopped random car

BigG80 · Post by **BigG80** » 24 Feb 2010, 11:36

Stefangp wrote:

Stealth helmet...

fjackdaw · Post by **fjackdaw** » 24 Feb 2010, 11:37

This story makes no sense, does it?

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/24022010/23/sauber-absence-hints-stefan-slot.html

Jordan192 · Post by **Jordan192** » 24 Feb 2010, 11:48

fjackdaw wrote:This story makes no sense, does it?

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/24022010/23/sauber-absence-hints-stefan-slot.html

That is some stunningly broken logic.

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 24 Feb 2010, 11:58

fjackdaw wrote:This story makes no sense, does it?

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/24022010/23/sauber-absence-hints-stefan-slot.html

I think it makes sense. It's a good idea to substitute the team with a structure, contracts with suppliers (including Ferrari engines, unlike the lesser Cossie-powered newbies), a structure, buildings, proven record, Peter Sauber and contracts for 2 drivers, plus BMW's implicit backing and a car which has rolled and demonstrated performance for the Serbian guy who rent a bit of TTE's old facilities. Bernie and Jean would love that. Serious.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 24 Feb 2010, 12:03

fjackdaw wrote:This story makes no sense, does it?

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/24022010/23/sauber-absence-hints-stefan-slot.html

Going by their logic, Renault would have serious problems too as Petrov is not listed as Kubica's teammate in their source. Does this mean that Jean-Denis Delatraz is making a belated return to the sport as a pay driver to swell Renault coffers and so that the Eastern European Petrov can join the Eastern European Stefan race team? Ludicrous, but you read it here first should it ever come to pass...

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 24 Feb 2010, 12:28

dr-baker wrote:
fjackdaw wrote:This story makes no sense, does it?

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/24022010/23/sauber-absence-hints-stefan-slot.html

Going by their logic, Renault would have serious problems too as Petrov is not listed as Kubica's teammate in their source. Does this mean that Jean-Denis Delatraz is making a belated return to the sport as a pay driver to swell Renault coffers and so that the Eastern European Petrov can join the Eastern European Stefan race team? Ludicrous, but you read it here first should it ever come to pass...

Close, but no cigar. What it means is that Mansell is taking the place alongside Bob Kubika, and that Renault is build a B-spec, widebody version of the car.

Jordan192 · Post by **Jordan192** » 24 Feb 2010, 12:41

CarlosFerreira wrote:I think it makes sense. It's a good idea to substitute the team with a structure, contracts with suppliers (including Ferrari engines, unlike the lesser Cossie-powered newbies), a structure, buildings, proven record, Peter Sauber and contracts for 2 drivers, plus BMW's implicit backing and a car which has rolled and demonstrated performance for the Serbian guy who rent a bit of TTE's old facilities. Bernie and Jean would love that. Serious.

What makes the article so stupid is that it's not even suggesting that. It's not saying "Sauber being missing from the list means they're in trouble and SGP will get in at their expense" (which is a bit of a leap, news to all of us, but at least logically consisent).
It's saying "Sauber being missing from the list means the SGP will get an entry in place of USF1 or Campos" - which is so far divorced from any reasonable causal relationship as to be ludicrous.

fjackdaw · Post by **fjackdaw** » 24 Feb 2010, 12:49

Jordan192 wrote:
CarlosFerreira wrote:I think it makes sense. It's a good idea to substitute the team with a structure, contracts with suppliers (including Ferrari engines, unlike the lesser Cossie-powered newbies), a structure, buildings, proven record, Peter Sauber and contracts for 2 drivers, plus BMW's implicit backing and a car which has rolled and demonstrated performance for the Serbian guy who rent a bit of TTE's old facilities. Bernie and Jean would love that. Serious.

What makes the article so stupid is that it's not even suggesting that. It's not saying "Sauber being missing from the list means they're in trouble and SGP will get in at their expense" (which is a bit of a leap, news to all of us, but at least logically consisent).
It's saying "Sauber being missing from the list means the SGP will get an entry in place of USF1 or Campos" - which is so far divorced from any reasonable causal relationship as to be ludicrous.

I'm glad it's not just me who couldn't work out that particular bit of non-logic!

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 24 Feb 2010, 13:32

CarlosFerreira wrote:
dr-baker wrote:
fjackdaw wrote:This story makes no sense, does it?

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/24022010/23/sauber-absence-hints-stefan-slot.html

Going by their logic, Renault would have serious problems too as Petrov is not listed as Kubica's teammate in their source. Does this mean that Jean-Denis Delatraz is making a belated return to the sport as a pay driver to swell Renault coffers and so that the Eastern European Petrov can join the Eastern European Stefan race team? Ludicrous, but you read it here first should it ever come to pass...

Close, but no cigar. What it means is that Mansell is taking the place alongside Bob Kubika, and that Renault is build a B-spec, widebody version of the car.

OK, so Delatraz will be Mansell's replacement for the first few races while the new phat-boy Renault is being constructed, Mansell will try the car for a couple of races, decide that the car is a piece of bullplop and thus Delatraz will be back in the car for another couple of races until another pay-driver with more money comes along which just happens to be... Vitaly Petrov! All because Sauber has not been listed on this FIA list just yet...