Grand Prix Rejects

Paul Hayes wrote:I love the idea of a new F1 entrepeneur, desperate to get his team into F1 whatever it takes, banging his fist down on the table and shouting at Dave Brown and co. "Get me Ralf Schumacher! I don't care how much it costs!"

LMFAO!!!

Ron Fellowes is driving in F1 next year?

If you have access to Autosport plus, this article by Dieter Rencken pretty much sums up where things stand in terms of USF1, Campos and Stefan GP:

http://www.autosport.com/features/article.php/id/2613

eytl wrote:If you have access to Autosport plus, this article by Dieter Rencken pretty much sums up where things stand in terms of USF1, Campos and Stefan GP:

http://www.autosport.com/features/article.php/id/2613

Can you paraphrase for those of us who don't?

A couple of Portuguese newspapers are saying that Álvaro Parente has begun contacting Stefan GP, after he was fired from Virgin.

Henrique wrote:A couple of Portuguese newspapers are saying that Álvaro Parente has begun contacting Stefan GP, after he was fired from Virgin.

Why on earth could he already be fired from Virgin? Has he done something indiscreet?

dr-baker wrote:

Henrique wrote:A couple of Portuguese newspapers are saying that Álvaro Parente has begun contacting Stefan GP, after he was fired from Virgin.

Why on earth could he already be fired from Virgin? Has he done something indiscreet?

This is Virgin, for him to be fired for something "indiscreet", it would have to be huge.

Like just this south shy of Max and five alleged Nazi Hookers........

dr-baker wrote:Why on earth could he already be fired from Virgin? Has he done something indiscreet?

There was an agreement between the Institute of Tourism for Portugal and the Virgin Group. The institute said it would sponsor the team, but decided to pull out recently. So Parente is off the team, which is why he wasn't present at the team launch
This was a shock for the Portuguese motorsport community. Even Cristiano Ronaldo spoke in Parente's defense. The issue of who's responsible is also being debated, I just wrote Parente's version of the story.

fjackdaw wrote:

eytl wrote:If you have access to Autosport plus, this article by Dieter Rencken pretty much sums up where things stand in terms of USF1, Campos and Stefan GP:

http://www.autosport.com/features/article.php/id/2613

Can you paraphrase for those of us who don't?

The suggestion is that USF1 has either somehow fallen behind or dicovered a major flaw in their build process, and while they're trying to correct the fault, they won't be ready in time for China. This is a problem because China is the fourth race of the year, but it seems the new teams may be given three Get Out of Jail Free cards where they can skip as many as three races without retribution.

However, I have my doubts. Over the past year or so, Autosport's Plus section has gone from interesting articles to opinion pieces that are just stuffed with speculation. The timing of this - just after the news of the possible three "no shows" rule has been floated - makes me wonder if this isn't the lastest round of gossip invented to make USF1 seem an unlikely prospect. It wouldn't be the first time Dieter Renken has been taken for a ride. Autosport might be a very respected publication, but he's also written some pretty specious stuff for some German-language sources.

Captain Hammer wrote:

fjackdaw wrote:

eytl wrote:If you have access to Autosport plus, this article by Dieter Rencken pretty much sums up where things stand in terms of USF1, Campos and Stefan GP:

http://www.autosport.com/features/article.php/id/2613

Can you paraphrase for those of us who don't?

The suggestion is that USF1 has either somehow fallen behind or dicovered a major flaw in their build process, and while they're trying to correct the fault, they won't be ready in time for China. This is a problem because China is the fourth race of the year, but it seems the new teams may be given three Get Out of Jail Free cards where they can skip as many as three races without retribution.

However, I have my doubts. Over the past year or so, Autosport's Plus section has gone from interesting articles to opinion pieces that are just stuffed with speculation. The timing of this - just after the news of the possible three "no shows" rule has been floated - makes me wonder if this isn't the lastest round of gossip invented to make USF1 seem an unlikely prospect. It wouldn't be the first time Dieter Renken has been taken for a ride. Autosport might be a very respected publication, but he's also written some pretty specious stuff for some German-language sources.

I agree, I tend to take Rencken with a rather large pinch of salt - not that long ago he was speculating that half of this year's races wouldn't happen for one reason or another and that the whole calendar was in dire straits. But nevertheless I thought this article summarised the two options at the moment re Stefan, Campos and USF1.

For those who can't access Autosport Plus, the options are:

Option 1

* Campos have fallen into arrears with Dallara, Dallara has pulled the pin, and the Teixeira deal is being blocked.
* USF1 takes the Dallara chassis, the purchase funded by Chad Hurley, otherwise they won't make it until the 4th race of the year.
* Stefan takes Campos' entry, with Dallara on board for "future cooperation".

Option 2 - status quo

* Campos make good their deal with Dallara, the Teixeira deal is on foot.
* USF1 have to make their own chassis and is in trouble perhaps?
* Stefan have a car, drivers, technical staff (including Dave Ryan, Mike Coughlan, Phil Adey and Colin Kolles) but no entry.

It's all very intriguing. I only hope that there are 26 drivers on the grid come March, and none of them are Ralf or Nelson. Sorry, fellahs.

eytl wrote:
I agree, I tend to take Rencken with a rather large pinch of salt - not that long ago he was speculating that half of this year's races wouldn't happen for one reason or another and that the whole calendar was in dire straits. But nevertheless I thought this article summarised the two options at the moment re Stefan, Campos and USF1.

For those who can't access Autosport Plus, the options are:

Option 1

* Campos have fallen into arrears with Dallara, Dallara has pulled the pin, and the Teixeira deal is being blocked.
* USF1 takes the Dallara chassis, the purchase funded by Chad Hurley, otherwise they won't make it until the 4th race of the year.
* Stefan takes Campos' entry, with Dallara on board for "future cooperation".

Option 2 - status quo

* Campos make good their deal with Dallara, the Teixeira deal is on foot.
* USF1 have to make their own chassis and is in trouble perhaps?
* Stefan have a car, drivers, technical staff (including Dave Ryan, Mike Coughlan, Phil Adey and Colin Kolles) but no entry.

Oh my god, my head hurts!

Henrique wrote:

dr-baker wrote:Why on earth could he already be fired from Virgin? Has he done something indiscreet?

There was an agreement between the Institute of Tourism for Portugal and the Virgin Group. The institute said it would sponsor the team, but decided to pull out recently. So Parente is off the team, which is why he wasn't present at the team launch
This was a shock for the Portuguese motorsport community. Even Cristiano Ronaldo spoke in Parente's defense. The issue of who's responsible is also being debated, I just wrote Parente's version of the story.

Álvaro Parente will become the best pwner after not getting in F1 until well after his 30th birthday, then proceeding to win several races (like Damon Hill).
I said it first.

Waris wrote:

Henrique wrote:

dr-baker wrote:Why on earth could he already be fired from Virgin? Has he done something indiscreet?

There was an agreement between the Institute of Tourism for Portugal and the Virgin Group. The institute said it would sponsor the team, but decided to pull out recently. So Parente is off the team, which is why he wasn't present at the team launch
This was a shock for the Portuguese motorsport community. Even Cristiano Ronaldo spoke in Parente's defense. The issue of who's responsible is also being debated, I just wrote Parente's version of the story.

Álvaro Parente will become the best pwner after not getting in F1 until well after his 30th birthday, then proceeding to win several races (like Damon Hill).
I said it first.

I'd be happy with a Stefan GP consisting of Nakajima and Parente. That's much more fitting.

eytl wrote:* Stefan have a car, drivers, technical staff (including Dave Ryan, Mike Coughlan, Phil Adey and Colin Kolles) but no entry.

Oy, oy, oy - what? They do? How? Why? Since when? And, most importantly - using whose money?

Don't get me wrong - if an established racer and team owner, with knowledge, an approved entry and a contract with a chassis manufacturer such as Dallara can't get sponsors and money... where are the Serbian cowboys getting theirs?

'cause if it's being given away for free I'm gonna go there and get some for myself!

Being the owner of an arms manufacturer / aerospace company might help.

Further details http://www.amco.st

Cue Iron Man storyline

Jordan wrote:Cue Iron Man storyline

Zoran Stefanovic built his car IN A CAVE! FROM A BOX OF SCRAPS!

CarlosFerreira wrote:

eytl wrote:* Stefan have a car, drivers, technical staff (including Dave Ryan, Mike Coughlan, Phil Adey and Colin Kolles) but no entry.

Oy, oy, oy - what? They do? How? Why? Since when? And, most importantly - using whose money?

Don't get me wrong - if an established racer and team owner, with knowledge, an approved entry and a contract with a chassis manufacturer such as Dallara can't get sponsors and money... where are the Serbian cowboys getting theirs?

'cause if it's being given away for free I'm gonna go there and get some for myself!

They're being heavily subsidised by TMC (Toyota Motorsport Corporation), being provided with technical support and remaining staff (including Toyota Tech Director Pascal Vasselon)... plus the AMCO connection which probably recieves big subsidies from the Serbian Government...

What's more weird is that a professional racing team, like Campos, and established racing personalities (Peter Windsor and... that other guy *Seinfeld quote*) don't have the same nous as Zoran here... yes they had entries before Toyota pulled the plug, but why then didn't they try and at least hook up with Toyota or Zoran afterwards???

danardif1 wrote:What's more weird is that a professional racing team, like Campos, and established racing personalities (Peter Windsor and... that other guy *Seinfeld quote*) don't have the same nous as Zoran here... yes they had entries before Toyota pulled the plug, but why then didn't they try and at least hook up with Toyota or Zoran afterwards???

Well, no one know them. To be honest, no established race team owner would want to be seen dead with Stefan, would they?

Does anyone here reckon they're going to get Flab Flav on board? Now that'd make my day.

Valrys wrote:

Jordan wrote:Cue Iron Man storyline

Zoran Stefanovic built his car IN A CAVE! FROM A BOX OF SCRAPS!

Is that not a bit more 'A Team'?
Which is in turn distinct from MacGuyver, where he makes it in a south american prison, from a single paper clip.

Jordan192 wrote:

Valrys wrote:

Jordan wrote:Cue Iron Man storyline

Zoran Stefanovic built his car IN A CAVE! FROM A BOX OF SCRAPS!

Is that not a bit more 'A Team'?
Which is in turn distinct from MacGuyver, where he makes it in a south american prison, from a single paper clip.

and a lock of hair... oh and dont forget some foil and a match with some baking soda or something

Any hope of Takuma Sato getting the other seat has gone, he signed for KV Racing in IndyCar

WeirdKerr wrote:

Jordan192 wrote:

Valrys wrote:Zoran Stefanovic built his car IN A CAVE! FROM A BOX OF SCRAPS!

Is that not a bit more 'A Team'?
Which is in turn distinct from MacGuyver, where he makes it in a south american prison, from a single paper clip.

and a lock of hair... oh and dont forget some foil and a match with some baking soda or something

That's what the Ferrari F60 was made of

kostas22 wrote:Any hope of Takuma Sato getting the other seat has gone, he signed for KV Racing in IndyCar

Well it appears that that's just a rumour at this stage, although I presume you have your sources as usual. Although that would be sad for F1, if it's true then I'm just mighty glad that Taku has found any kind of semi-decent seat - and our interest in the Indycar season has just increased tenfold. With more street/road tracks than ovals (9 to 8), I'll predict that Taku will create a cult following in the States and finish top 8 in the championship.

eytl wrote:

kostas22 wrote:Any hope of Takuma Sato getting the other seat has gone, he signed for KV Racing in IndyCar

Well it appears that that's just a rumour at this stage, although I presume you have your sources as usual. Although that would be sad for F1, if it's true then I'm just mighty glad that Taku has found any kind of semi-decent seat - and our interest in the Indycar season has just increased tenfold. With more street/road tracks than ovals (9 to 8), I'll predict that Taku will create a cult following in the States and finish top 8 in the championship.

Maybe Taku's just hoping that PDLR will leave Sauber so he can form the dynamite duo with Kobayashi at Sauber. That would be a great team.

eytl wrote:

kostas22 wrote:Any hope of Takuma Sato getting the other seat has gone, he signed for KV Racing in IndyCar

Well it appears that that's just a rumour at this stage, although I presume you have your sources as usual. Although that would be sad for F1, if it's true then I'm just mighty glad that Taku has found any kind of semi-decent seat - and our interest in the Indycar season has just increased tenfold. With more street/road tracks than ovals (9 to 8), I'll predict that Taku will create a cult following in the States and finish top 8 in the championship.

Actually no - its just the place I saw the story is in Portugese and em...we'll I don't really speak it
So maybe it's just a rumor - I don't know - but I'm sure he said IRL was his Plan-B in an interview a while ago now.

If it is true, then he's gonna do a Kobayashi-on-Nakajima and blow Hideki Mutoh away!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81361

Stefan GP is shipping equipment to the 1st FOUR races, even though his team has no entry. And from a European perspective, these are all long-haul races so will be at considerable expense...

dr-baker wrote:http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81361

Stefan GP is shipping equipment to the 1st FOUR races, even though his team has no entry. And from a European perspective, these are all long-haul races so will be at considerable expense...

Hans Heyer GP?

thehemogoblin wrote:

dr-baker wrote:http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81361

Stefan GP is shipping equipment to the 1st FOUR races, even though his team has no entry. And from a European perspective, these are all long-haul races so will be at considerable expense...

Hans Heyer GP?

Let's hope so!

dr-baker wrote:http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81361

Stefan GP is shipping equipment to the 1st FOUR races, even though his team has no entry. And from a European perspective, these are all long-haul races so will be at considerable expense...

Conspiracy...

Can i ask why are Stefan GP wasting their money when Jean Todt has come out saying that all the 13 teams will be on the grid http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81359
To me Stefan Gp chances are sadly very slim. Why the FIA bother with the USF1 and Campos I will nver know. Stefan GP are ready so give them a chance.

TeamTipper wrote:Can i ask why are Stefan GP wasting their money when Jean Todt has come out saying that all the 13 teams will be on the grid http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81359
To me Stefan Gp chances are sadly very slim. Why the FIA bother with the USF1 and Campos I will nver know. Stefan GP are ready so give them a chance.

Bernie Ecclestone has stated that Campos and USF1 may not be in the grid in Bahrein. That has to mean something.

TeamTipper wrote:Can i ask why are Stefan GP wasting their money when Jean Todt has come out saying that all the 13 teams will be on the grid http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81359
To me Stefan Gp chances are sadly very slim. Why the FIA bother with the USF1 and Campos I will nver know. Stefan GP are ready so give them a chance.

I read those comments from Todt before I posted above - saying that each team is allowed to miss THREE races before getting penalised, which means that US F1 and Campos have to show by China, where Stefan will also be present - in case one of them isn't there?

Ecclestone > FIA

'Nuff said.

Even if USF1 and Campos don't turn up Stefan won't get chance. They'll miss the first 3 races, then Stefan will be told is too late to start this season. Is this FIA not allowing the likes Campos et al of selling their F1 entrances and making them actually pay penalties (ie not allowing them to benefict from selling their entrance and actually hurting them with a fine). This would stop further bogus team trying to join.

And anyway wouldn't all the other teams have to agree for Stefan to join half way? Williams will say no.

Bernie though is always a bit of brown stuff stirrer, he has always acted as a spin doctor for F1, I see him just using Stefan as a tool to wind up USF1 and Campos. If they don't turn up he says "I said so", if they do he'll have shown them that he doesn't need them, plenty of others. But the FIA will try and protect the sport against bogus teams.

I'm not expecting to see Stefan this year, if indeed he is serious about joining let's see if he continues to invest in the old Toyoya for 2011.

In my opinion Stefan GP should be allowed to race if Campos or USF1 fail to make Bahrain. Then we can kick out the team that take the longest.

Think I'm being harsh? USF1 and Campos both promised to have a car ready for the 2010 season. The 2010 season starts in Bahrain and Stefan GP have made it, so have Virgin and Lotus. Tough luck guys.

I believe that Stefan GP is waiting for the news that Campos (or maybe USF1) won't make it into the 2010 season at all, hence becoming the natural substitute. I believe that today (Feb 10) is the extended deadline given by Dallara to Campos to settle their pending debts.