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This whole thing leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Those in charge at USF1 pulled the wool over the eyes of the FIA, their supporters and their own workforce and it makes me sick to think of those 60 hard working people who are now without a job thanks to the idiots at the top.
I guess no one does care then, IF this story is true.Quote:
Originally Posted by Riley
Bravo Grand Prix F1 Team, 1993. First Spanish F1 team ever. It didn't make it to the first GP.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alfa Fan
IIRC it was a joint venture by Adrían Campos and Nick Wirth (yeah, the CFD Virgin guy). They tried to use the Andrea Modena chassis from the year before. Team lasted a month and a half after it went bankrupt and a FIA auditory rejected its economic viability, marking the first Campos fiasco. Well, the first one away from the track....
Adrián Campos is a complete disaster. Even Fernando Alonso quickly realized that and waved him goodbye (he was his manager) at a very early stage of his F1 career.
Anyway, this thread is about USF1, so let's stick to it. Sorry guys!
Sad yes but it was inevitableQuote:
Originally Posted by Giuseppe F1
I know it is difficult to put an entry together from scratch but even so it seemed a pathetic attempt totally understimating both the costs, the infrastructure required and the amount of effort needed to actually set up a team. Considering it was announced back as early as 2008, they have absolutely no excuses especially as Lotus managed to do all that and more in just FIVE MONTHS
What I would like to know is what exactly have they been doing at Charlotte? Obviously they had some money but why on earth did they fail to produce a car of some sort, sounds incredible?Quote:
Originally Posted by DazzlaF1
Thats a question only messrs Anderson & Windsor can answer, but i dont think we'll be hering from either anytime soon, which wont suprise us one jot.Quote:
Originally Posted by DexDexter
Me thinks its time to open up the bidding again for 2011 and give it to an entrant that not only would be more worthy but also guarantee participation, StefanGP, Lola, Prodrive to name but a few.
At least I hope the selection process for next entrants will be less MadMaxized...
Adrian Campos ran a successfull GP2 team for several years, a team he built from the ground up. He also brought along several Spanish drivers early in their careers, back when the team was in the Telefonica series, including Alonso and Antonio Garcia. The Bravo project fell apart after Jean Mosnier died, and to blame that on Campos (or Nick Wirth) is wrong. Campos was just a team manager working for Jean-Pierre Mosnier. Bravo was Mosnier's project, and they were going to run a revised version of the BMW-comissioned Wirth design that Andrea Moda used in 92. There was (probably) nothing wrong with the design itself - Andrea Moda had plenty of other issues that hampered their performance, to say the least. Wirth understandably wanted to use the design for something proper, as he knew it and what it could do. I always liked Nick, by the way, and I'm happy he's finaly getting some recognition with the Acura and Virgin projects.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pulidor
It is funny, though, how the Bravo project sort of mirrors USF1 (though Bravo had a lot more substance to it). Both were created to be national racing teams, intending for a good national along with an experienced shoe (Larini/J.Gené for Bravo, Summerton/Wurz for USF1), and wanting to offer a place for "future talent" (Rossi and Hildebrand, de la Rosa and Arias), and made it on to the entry list but never the grid. And in both cases, the country had no real F1 heritage and seemed like a strange place to base a team.
There was a consortium behind Mosnier's project, but after he died the whole thing just ran out of steam. Maybe Campos took over for a while - they were going to test and develop the car during 93 for the 94 season with Jordi Gené (hello Stefan GP).
The problem Campos Meta had was a lack of rich investors ready to pump money into the team. If Alejandro Agag had been in on it, it would perhaps have been a different story. USF1 and Campos shows that it's not possible to start up from nothing (as the GP2 team is now with Agag, the F1 team would have to be built from ground up) and just pick up sponsors. If you have a lot of money, you get the job done. If you have the facilities, experience and the pedigree, you'll at least have a far easier time attracting sponsors, or keeping the ones you have. Had Campos still been in charge of his GP2 team, he would have been a good choice. He's not a disaster, he just can't work miracles. Did get a whole lot further than USF1, mind you. But in the end the FIA would have been better advised to pick Manor-Wirth, Epsilon Euskadi and Lola.
Lopez's manager being very critical of Ken Anderson's role in the team.
http://en.espnf1.com/teamus/motorsport/story/10002.html
Even though people questioned him and his credentials when he was given the seat, I feel really sorry for Lopez. Imagine one day you've been offered the chance to fulfill your lifelong ambition of racing in Formula 1 only for it to be taken away like this.
With all that sponsorship money and there is no team clamoring for this great driver's service? What is this world coming too?!! :eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by DazzlaF1
Lopez though that he would take the easy route - do NOTHING, and suddenly find himself in F1.
I am glad he is not on the grid because he in no way deserves to be on that grid amongst the worlds best drivers.
Imagine "Pechito" [stupid bloody name] in F1 whilst a driver like Davidson or di Resta either are not or are reserve drivers at best. It would be a disgrace.