Time for the always exciting driver RNGs. I'll be doing sponsors later on.
Laurent AïelloWith 1999 employer Nissan withdrawing as a works team from Britain, Aiello is officially a free agent, as 1999 champion Aiello naturally has many offers on the table, three to remain in Britain and two works offers that will take him home to France with previous employer Peugeot or back to Germany with Audi. Both have offered him 800k. As for British offers the team behind his championship RML have offered 650k to remain with them for their new foray running Jaguars while WSR have offered 850k for their new MGs. Both are somewhat of a gamble given these are two new brands to the series. New independent team, PRO Motorsport have also offered 600k which Aiello deems not even worth considering.
1-40 Peugeot works driver (France)
41-80 Audi works driver (Germany)
81-95 #32 West Surrey Racing (850k)
96-100 #2 Ray Mallock Ltd (650k)
Thanks but no thanks #45 Pro Motorsport (600k)
77 Aiello heads back to Germany with new employers, Audi.
David Leslie1999 runner up has an offer to remain with RML in their new venture with Jaguars. Prodrive and VLR both offer more money. He is not the top choice for any of the three offers.
1-50 #55 Prodrive (750k)
51-90 #23 Ray Mallock Ltd (550k)
91-100 #10 Vic Lee Racing (600k)
2 Leslie considers Prodrive his top choice but is dependent on Harvey turning them down.
Rickard RydellThe long time Volvo driver has been placed at Volvo customer GR Motorsport for 2000 (with an option for 2001 depending on performance) following Volvo's withdrawal as a full works team. Volvo will offer 100k in sponsorship to the team for every win they can achieve. Rydell also had an offer from RML but turns them down in favour of remaining a Volvo works driver.
James ThompsonRising star Thompson has three offers, none from 1999 team WSR. Triple 8 is the safe option with main stay Vauxhall surely to be a contender up front. RML and VLR offer a little more but are more risky from a performance stance.
1-60 #8 Triple 8 (500k)
61-90 #2 Ray Mallock Ltd (550k)
91-100 #10 Vic Lee Racing (550k)
40 Thompson signs with Triple 8 and a return to running Vauxhalls.
Jason PlatoAnother rising star, Plato has offers from all four of the big teams that remain in the series. Prodrive is the most enticing offer with 750k and the first choice for the #56. WSR have matched that offer but he is only their second choice behind Muller. RML have him as first choice but for less money and a complete unknown in the Jaguar while Triple 8 offer the least money and the least chance of a drive as Thompson has signed for the intended #8 though there is still a chance of the drive if one of their other cars is still available later.
1-70 #56 Prodrive (750k)
71-85 #32 West Surrey Racing (750k)
86-95 #23 Ray Mallock Ltd (550k)
96-100 #8 Triple 8 (500k)
2 Plato signs with Prodrive.
Yvan MullerMuller has several offers to remain in Britain though bizarrely despite a solid performance last season Triple 8 have chosen not to make a bid to retain his services. One of his offers Prodrive have already made a deal with Plato though he may try to get in their final remaining car. WSR offer more money but a less proven package in the new MG but he is the first (and only remaining) choice. RML offer the least money and an even less proven package in the Jaguar while VLR offer a modest amount and are also a risk having been out of the series for some time.
1-70 #32 West Surrey Racing (850k)
71-85 Attempt to get the #55 Prodrive (750k)
86-93 #23 Ray Mallock Ltd (550k)
94-100 #10 Vic Lee Racing (600k)
16 Muller signs with WSR completing their lineup.
Vincent Radermecker1999 Volvo driver Radermecker has just one offer to remain in Britain from RML where he is the last remaining choice for their #2 Jaguar. He is also considering looking in Germany for a ride but nothing concrete has been offered yet.
1-80 #2 Ray Mallock Ltd (150k)
81-100 Look in Germany
24 RML gets their first driver.
Matt NealNeal was always going to remain with his family team unless one of the big teams gave him an offer but none did. No need for an RNG as daddy offers a generous 350k.
Mark Blair1999 rookie gentleman driver Blair has just one offer but he is presently surprised that it is a paid gig from Gary Ayles' new team. No need for an RNG, he accepts.
Roger MöenNorwegian independent who previously ran in the series in 1998, Moen has two offers. A paid drive from sophomore team Arena to drive their third Merc or established team Triple 8 who despite being well funded want him to bring money.
1-75 #9 Arena Motorsports (60k)
76-100 #80 Triple 8 (Pay)
77 Moen goes with the safe but expensive option in Triple 8. He can bring
£58,000 to the ride.
Toni RuokonenFinland's Ruokonen has two offers. Both Triple 8 and Pro Motorsport want money from him. The latter want a set amount of 100k while the former has made a deal with Moen but if Ruokonen can raise more than the Norwegian's 58k they may still consider him.
1-90 #80 Triple 8 (Pay)
91-100 #46 Pro Motorsport (-100k)
89 Roukonen chooses the cheaper Triple 8 but only scrounges up
£52,000.
Paula Cook1999 rookie has just one offer but from a top team in Triple 8. They already have a deal with Moen for 58k so Cook will have to raise more to stand a chance.
She raises
£78,000 and hopes this will convince Triple 8 to accept her over Moen.
Tim Harvey1992 champion Harvey found himself without a ride last season when Peugeot pulled out. He has two offers for 2000 from two of the biggest teams in the series. Prodrive offer more money and he is the first choice for their remaining Ford with only Leslie as competition. Meanwhile Triple 8 have already made a deal with Thompson for their #8 but may still have him in another car if left without options. They also offer less money. Somewhat of a no brainer for Harvey.
1-95 #55 Prodrive (750k)
96-100 Hope Triple 8 still want him for one of their other cars (500k)
75 Harvey signs with Prodrive completing their lineup. This means Leslie will have to reconsider his other two options both of which he is the only remaining bid.
David Leslie1-75 #23 Ray Mallock Ltd (550k)
76-100 #10 Vic Lee Racing (600k)
72 Leslie remains with RML going into their new venture with Jaguar.
Nigel MansellThe former F1 and CART champion made a few appearances in the series with Ford in 1998. He has an offer to go full time in 2000 with virtual unknown team PRO Motorsport. Old Nige had been considering a co-driver role preferably with a big team so has some temptation to make a full assault but with a small team?
1-95 Look for co-driver role
96-100 #45 Pro Motorsport (500k)
52 Mansell says no to a full time drive but will look for a co-driver role with one of the big teams.
James KayeFormer Honda driver Kaye has been out of a ride in the series for three seasons and instead has been running various series on the continent. He has one offer from GR Motorsport to return but he is the second choice to Mathias Ekstrom. He accepts but has to wait for Ekstrom's decision.
Simon HarrisonHarrison won the National Saloon Car Championship last season and has one offer to return to the series with John Bintcliffe's new team. No need for an RNG here he accepts without hesitation.
Damon HillThe 1996 F1 champion retired from all motorsport after last season. He however has a mega £1,000,000 offer from Triple 8 which could tempt him to give touring cars a try.
1-80 Remain in retirement
81-100 #888 Triple 8 (1m)
19 Hill remains in retirement
Jan MagnussenMagnussen has an offer from Triple 8 but also has a contract with Panoz in the ALMS.
1-80 Remain with Panoz in ALMS
81-100 #888 Triple 8 (750k)
60 Will continue with Panoz but may be available for a co-driver role.
Tom KristensenHas raced in F3000 for the past three seasons as well as Le Mans where he won in 1997. He has several offers to run Supercars. Audi have made an offer of 750k to run him in Germany as well as Le Mans as a works driver. Honda have also made an offer to place him in Italy of 650k. Triple 8 have also offered 750k to run their #888 Vauxhall.
1-50 Audi works driver (Germany)
51-90 #888 Triple 8 (750k)
91-100 Honda works driver (Italy)
14 Kristensen becomes an Audi works driver.
Dan EavesUp and coming driver who came 4th in the National Saloon Car Championship last season. He has 500k in Halfords sponsorship and just one offer to move up to this series with Bowman Motorsport, now taken over by Vic Lee. No RNG needed, Eaves signs up.
Phil BennettAnother promising rookie who came 3rd in the Renault Spider Cup last season. He has an offer from VLR, initially this was as second choice behind Eaves in the #20 but the team failed to sign any of their choices for the #10 so there is still room at the team. Bennett accepts the second VLR Peugeot if the team still want him.
Alan MorrisonAnother rookie with an offer from VLR, Morrison was runner up in the Vauxhall Vectra Cup last season. He is VLR's third choice behind Eaves and Bennett. He will drive for VLR if they choose him over Bennett.
Gordon SheddenVirtual unknown Shedden has managed to receive three offers despite just one season in the Ford Fiesta Championship. Triple 8 and Team Dynamics have both offered 100k, the former as second choice behind Allan McNish while GA had offered 50k but have already signed Mark Blair.
1-50 #88 Triple 8 (100k)
51-100 #50 Team Dynamics (100k)
53 Shedden takes the first choice offer in the second TDR Honda. He requests that the car runs #52.
Rob CollardCollard raced in Formula Ford for the past few seasons but has set his sites on tintops for this season. He had two offers PRO Motorsport have already signed Blair so only Triple 8 remain who have made an offer to McNish ahead of him. Collard accepts but has to wait for McNish's decision.
Stuart ClarkeClarke came 6th in the National Saloon Car Championship last season for his own team and has a decent offer to move up to Arena Motorsports. No RNG needed, he accepts and completes Arena's lineup.
Johnny MowlemMowlem had an offer for Bincliffe's #7 Saab but they have signed up Harrison already but he has a slim chance of getting the #77 if none of their bids pan out. He also has an offer in ALMS.
1-90 ALMS
91-100 #77 Bintcliffe Sport (350k)
6 Mowlem will compete in ALMS.
Alan McNishMcNish has recently gained prominence in endurance racing having comepeted with Porsche and Toyota at Le Mans winning 1998 for the former. Audi have made him an offer to join their Le Mans team for 500k and may allow him to run a full deal in the BTCC alongside. McNish also has offers from TCR in their 2nd Nissan, Pro Motorsport and Bintcliffe, all small teams but with decent offers. Big team Triple 8 have also made an offer but it is substantially smaller wage than his other offers. McNish accepts the Audi Le Mans role but also has the option to race for an Audi team in the German championship.
1-45 Audi works driver in Germany
46-70 #18 Total Control (300k)
71-80 #45 Pro Motorsport (250k)
81-90 #77 Bintcliffe Sport (220k)
91-100 #88 Triple 8 (100k)
67 McNish signs up with Lee Brookes to run his second Nissan. This means Collard can sign for Triple 8.
Mattias EkströmThe defending Swedish Touring Car Champion has two offers to move to Britain both to drive Swedish cars. GR Motorsport have offered 150k for him to pair up with Rydell and form an all Swedish super team running Volvos. Bintcliffe meanwhile has offered a little less to drive a Saab. Volvo have also made him an offer of 250k to remain in Sweden and race for Flash Engineering though Ekstrom is keen to test his talents against a stronger field.
1-60 Flash Engineering Volvo (Sweden)
61-90 #14 GR Motorsport (150k)
91-100 #77 Bintcliffe Sport (125k)
49 Ekstrom will remain in Sweden. This allows Kaye to complete GRM's lineup.
Tommy ErdosThe British based Brazilian driver has mainly raced in sports cars throughout the nineties but has an offer from RML to switch to touring cars. Opportunities in sports cars have dried up for now so its an easy decision. Erdos completes RML's lineup.
Kurt LubyLuby last raced in the series way back in 1990 but had two offers to return for 2000. Arena have already signed up Clarke so only Bintcliffe's offer remains. Luby accepts and completes their lineup.
Tiago MonteiroMonteiro has had an underwhelming open-wheel career thus far having raced in French F3 for the past two seasons finishing 6th in 1999. A paid drive in British Touring Cars is tempting but ASM have made an offer for another season in French F3 and there is a good chance to finally be a championship contender.
1-75 French F3 with ASM.
76-100 #45 Pro Motorsport (75k)
54 Monteiro isn't ready to give up on making his way up the open-wheel ladder just yet and remains in French F3.
Stephen WatsonThe South African has ended up a failure in the open-wheel scene though he got to have some experience recently as an Arrows test driver. However there is nothing on the cards for 2000 other than an offer for Pro Motorsport who are asking for 250k. Not very tempting but its that or retirement to focus on his business ventures.
1-80 Retire from racing
81-100 #46 Pro Motorsport (-250k)
20 Watson decides to give up on racing.
Narain KarthikeyanLike Monteiro, Karthikeyan has had an underwhelming open-wheel career thus far. He has spent the last two seasons in British F3 with Carlin. Pro Motorsport have got in touch about a switch to touring cars but they want 200k in money, shouldn't be too hard for him to raise given his connections in India but is it better spent on remaining in F3?
1-90 British F3 with Paul Stewart Racing
91-100 #46 Pro Motorsport (-200k)
48 Karthikeyan remains in British F3.
Esteban TueroTuero ran a season in F1 for Minardi in 1998 but mysteriously retired from the category before the following season returning to Argentina to race in TC2000. He is surprised to receive an offer for 2000 from some British team to race in Britain and even more surprised that they want money from him when they surely could look closer to home. Needless to say it isn't exactly tempting and he would much rather remain at home in Argentina safe from whatever it was that made him leave F1.
So thats all the driver RNGs, four drives remain open including a plum seat at Triple 8, the still uncontrolled Tech-Speed and PRO Motorsport's two Alfas who have paid the price for making such lofty driver bids.
So Triple 8 and PRO Motorsport must submit some more bids, luckily there are still several young drivers yet to find a ride like Pyper, Howell and O'Neill.
Triple 8 must also decide on their driver for the #80. Moen's 58k, Ruokonen's 52k or Cook's 78k.
Vic Lee Racing also need to decide on either Bennett or Morrison for their 2nd car or to keep looking for other drivers.
I'll run sponsor RNGs tomorrow as I ran out of time today. Then I'll update the budgets.