Prodrive

[blakebeatty]

Prodrive is listed on the very site of the FIA. They are to be the 12th and final team on the grid

http://www.fia.com/automotive/issue4.../article4.html

Prodrive aquired the assets of Aston Martin in a deal with Ford. This may have changed their plans, originally ProDrive F1, perhaps now Aston Martin F1?

Aston Martin:
http://www.planet-f1.com/story/0,189...086935,00.html

[GridGirl]

Just becuase they FIA has said they are the 12th team, it doesnt mean they have signed anything official yet.

I very much doubt anything will come of Aston Martin, its Mercedes that are pulling all the strings.

[leopard]

Just becuase they FIA has said they are the 12th team, it doesnt mean they have signed anything official yet.

Are you expecting more teams and cars on the grid? more team more gridgirls :

[milly]

Just becuase they FIA has said they are the 12th team, it doesnt mean they have signed anything official yet.

I very much doubt anything will come of Aston Martin, its Mercedes that are pulling all the strings.

1. Prodrive did not buy Aston Martin - it is owned by a mixture of US and Kuwaiti venture cpaitalists. David Richards is only chairman and the front for the business - it is run on a day-to-day basis by Ulrich Bez. Prodrive and Aston are separate.

2. To be given the entry into F1 by FIA, you have to sign an agreement with FIA confirming your entry.

Prodrive did this last year in order to be announced as the 12th team. Prodrive now has to turn up with its cars at Melbourne next year - or sell its entry to somebody else.

At present they do not have a deal in place because McLaren wants them to fund the lease of its cars properly, and over three years. Prodrive does not yet have the money in place to make any announcements......

[Robinho]

ooh, i've had a thought! (ouch)

there was a lot of talk about Prodrive using a customer chassis, likely McLaren. McLaren have been a bit busy lately in other areas, hence the lack of info. maybe the stolen plans were meant for Prodrive and we could have had a McLaren/Ferrari hybrid with Coughlan and Stepney heading up the design team?

i imagine the actual truth (should we ever hear it) is likely to be stranger than any fiction i can come up with

[GridGirl]

1. Prodrive did not buy Aston Martin - it is owned by a mixture of US and Kuwaiti venture cpaitalists. David Richards is only chairman and the front for the business - it is run on a day-to-day basis by Ulrich Bez. Prodrive and Aston are separate.

2. To be given the entry into F1 by FIA, you have to sign an agreement with FIA confirming your entry.

Prodrive did this last year in order to be announced as the 12th team. Prodrive now has to turn up with its cars at Melbourne next year - or sell its entry to somebody else.

At present they do not have a deal in place because McLaren wants them to fund the lease of its cars properly, and over three years. Prodrive does not yet have the money in place to make any announcements......

Hell I only get my information from one of the 2008 Prodrive driver management team, what do I know. When the contracts are finally signed I'll look forward to getting a copy.

[luvracin]

ooh, i've had a thought! (ouch)

there was a lot of talk about Prodrive using a customer chassis, likely McLaren. McLaren have been a bit busy lately in other areas, hence the lack of info. maybe the stolen plans were meant for Prodrive and we could have had a McLaren/Ferrari hybrid with Coughlan and Stepney heading up the design team?

i imagine the actual truth (should we ever hear it) is likely to be stranger than any fiction i can come up with

HA! Just what I was thinking... Mclaren to build and sell a Ferarri to Prodrive!!! :

[tinchote]

Hell I only get my information from one of the 2008 Prodrive driver management team, what do I know. When the contracts are finally signed I'll look forward to getting a copy.

I'm not saying that's not bound to change, but with the current regulations you need to sign up for the F1 championship 2 years in advance.

[milly]

Hell I only get my information from one of the 2008 Prodrive driver management team, what do I know. When the contracts are finally signed I'll look forward to getting a copy.

I can't tell you how I know, but all I can do is say that the information you have mentioned is not correct.

Under the new Concorde Agreement governing the commercial entry terms of teams in F1, Prodrive has a signed, contractual obligation to provide a team - however, it doesn't have to be their team, they could sell it to the others who were after the space originally - Carlin and Epsilon Euskadi.