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Agree with this - plus the whole story about the Prodrive approach to BMW isn't in the public domain.

DR is known for taking big, big risks - and usually they come off but sometimes (Aston Martin...

Don't compare it to North One's coverage - the whole idea is that this is a new opportunity.

Can't agree.

They only had three stages to worry about - wasted 30% of program showing highlights of previous two days. Had the chance to discuss WRC in detail with Jean Todt but that was only...

Sorry but it simply wasn't good enough.

Eurosport did again what it always does - fails to keep to schedule, lets down viewers, so no surprise it isn't holding audiences or attracting...

Prodrive told staff several weeks ago that they are going to leave these buildings anyway and are moving everything under one roof in a single building close to the existing site (old Hella...

Dany Bahar has signed a four-year contract extension as CEO at Lotus.

AUTO RACING - INDYCAR: Busy Times For Lotus

I think this hints at one of the most fundamental problems facing WRC right now - the problems with the TV coverage that has led to poor exposure on stations around the world.

As a result, it's...

This has been coming right from the start of the Mini program - because Prodrive did the deal based on BMW only giving technical and PR support and the right to build the rally car, then Prodrive had...

It's Jeremy Hart.

Castrol has a central contract with BMW - all touring car, sportscars, even World Superbikes, have to use Castrol so it will be a small, supplier deal with Mini. Same deal with Ford for rally.

If...

This is a customer deal, not a Toyota factory deal.

Rebellion pays money for this engine.

Toyota Motorsport is a customer operation now - they only do things that a customer pays for.

I don't think Tajima is allowed near any 'official' Suzuki projects.

Anything he does is doen by himself, paid for by a driver.

Suzuki will not touch him any more....

Toyota won't go near Prodrive and Mazda rejected Prodrive in January/February of this year.

German media say Prodrive definitely had a guy from BMW Mini inSweden with them.

He was Udo Mark, technical co-ordinator of the Mini Challenges worldwide.
...

Or maybe the problem is the financial situation with Investment Dar, which owns 40% of Prodrive (and 50% of Aston Martin) and is in major difficulty regarding repayments on its borrowings.
...

Maybe there wasn't a deal in place at all - maybe a smokescreen......

Important to note that this isn't a sponsorship deal - no money going to Lotus - it's a 'partnership' deal.

CNN will give Lotus coverage on its channel through news and documentary pieces - Lotus...

Also, sanction fees vary across events:

Malaysia and Abu Dhabi pay approx $45m in 2009.

Monaco pays nothing.

Monza pays about $5m.

Average price is $20m across the season.

FOM (Bernie) gets a sanction fee to have the race at the venue (Silverstone pays just under $20m for 2010 race, and an annual escalation at 7% per year, for 17 years.....).

FOM sells all...

Is testing with 2L engine from WRC car, or the new 1.6 Turbo?

Prodrive don't have - and didn't have - the money to do F1.

Prodrive don't have the luxury of a WRC programme to draw in cash anymore.

Have you read the stories about Investment Dar...

There is supposed to be some announcement about Mini WRC program at Geneva Show at the start of March.

There were some people from Mini with David Richards and David Lapworth in Sweden last week.

What this news does mean though is that Nick Fry's a lame duck CEO.

He can represent the company and report to the board, but all the key strategic decisions are being made by board members...

Just because he (and others) have stepped down as directors does not mean that they have left the company.

They can still stay in their roles, but without the shareholdings that they held.....

Here's an interesting story about what happened to him when he worked at Williams.......
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