The Prodrive debacle

#22948

By 7UpJordan - 07 Nov 07, 18:12

- 07 Nov 07, 18:12#22948

But what chassis?

If he gets special dispendsation for using a customer chassis on the basis they make their own in 2009, I'd try and use last year's Spyker B spec car.

"And Mansell was lucky not to be taken off by that RIDICULOUS bit of driving by Alliot!!" - James Hunt
"AAAAAND into the pitlane..... OHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!" - Murray Walker

#22969

By certom - 07 Nov 07, 19:36

- 07 Nov 07, 19:36#22969

So? It's a new team. They'll have time to develop and improve - would be good to have another pro in F1 that can make engines.

yeah, the team would be new, but not the team boss.. i'd like to see EJ and his pitbabes

back on the grid, but if I was EJ i wouldn't think to come back in F1...at least untill the circus doesn't change its mind money-centred...which means : I would never come back...

ORGOGLIO FERRARI

VOLVO DRIVER

#22973

By 7UpJordan - 07 Nov 07, 20:05

- 07 Nov 07, 20:05#22973

So? It's a new team. They'll have time to develop and improve - would be good to have another pro in F1 that can make engines.

yeah, the team would be new, but not the team boss.. i'd like to see EJ and his pitbabes back on the grid

Mmmmmm yes please..... :twisted:

"And Mansell was lucky not to be taken off by that RIDICULOUS bit of driving by Alliot!!" - James Hunt
"AAAAAND into the pitlane..... OHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!" - Murray Walker

#23038

By toothe - 08 Nov 07, 09:33

- 08 Nov 07, 09:33#23038

doubt anyone will join next year, maybe accept jordan or one of the other rivals ... minardi also were possible but they may have to join in 2009, or complete only part of the 2008 season. if they allow customer cars then there will be more uproar. will be interesting to watch this until march, the fia may even allow prodrive yet afaik there hasnt been an official no .

A Senna - The formula 1 legend (never will there be a racer like him)
J Button - 0 World championships (just give him a fast car)

#23042

By onelapdown - 08 Nov 07, 09:49

- 08 Nov 07, 09:49#23042

If they allow customer cars Prodrive will race with used (and possibly modified) McLaren Mercedes. If they don't then no-one will be in a position to build a car and team by March. Simple as.

Jim Clark, Monza, one lap down...

#23045

By toothe - 08 Nov 07, 09:53

- 08 Nov 07, 09:53#23045

If they allow customer cars Prodrive will race with used (and possibly modified) McLaren Mercedes. If they don't then no-one will be in a position to build a car and team by March. Simple as.

agree, unless they do the cusomter car for 1 year (which prodrive wont do)

A Senna - The formula 1 legend (never will there be a racer like him)
J Button - 0 World championships (just give him a fast car)

#23055

By manbearpig - 08 Nov 07, 10:55

- 08 Nov 07, 10:55#23055

Prodrive has abandoned plans to enter Formula One next year with 2008-specification McLaren-Mercedes "customer cars" (Competition, Oct. 22).

McLaren confirmed that it is too late to deliver 2008 cars for the Australian Grand Prix in March, and the FIA World Motor Sport Council refused permission for the team to debut in the middle of the season.

Prodrive chairman David Richards has not ruled out running McLaren's 2007 cars; this appears unlikely, since no rules allow for customer teams. WilliamsF1's threat to take Prodrive and McLaren to court if they try to compete further complicates matters.

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a ... /1002/FREE

#23057

By onelapdown - 08 Nov 07, 11:31

- 08 Nov 07, 11:31#23057

My understanding was that Prodrive always intended to use 2007 McLarens modified to suit the '08 regs, so I don't see how this changes matters. I'm under the impression that as long as you own the intellectual property of a chassis, you're not technically a customer team (this dates back to the Shadow/Arrows affair in the mid-70s and is how Toro Rosso and Super Aguri have operated so far) so McLaren could sell this to Prodrive, but the problem is that of course Ferrari question whether McLaren really own all the intellectual property in the first place...

As for Prodrive not wanting to build their own car long-term, their much better placed than any other possible teams to do this. They actually have a motorsport company with all the neccessary tools and personnel, something Paul Stoddart and Eddie Jordan certainly don't have. If Richards gets on the grid in '08, he should be able to build a new chassis for '09.