Richard Branson (Virgin) to save Honda together with Adrian Reynard?

[Giuseppe F1]

Interesting rumour - especially the fact that Reynard still owns a lot of the Honda land which I wasnt aware of -

Also wasnt aware of how Branson and Reynard do/have worked together,

I think the Virgin brand would be great for F1 - I know Virgin Atlantic had a small sponsor deal with Super Aguri a while ago...

...Lets see how this one develops:

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns21187.html

FEBRUARY 16, 2009
Could it be Virgin?

There are rumours that the new bidder for Honda could be the Virgin Group, the venture capital firm that is headed by Sir Richard Branson. This specialises in travel, entertainment and lifestyle products. The company is estimated to be worth $8bn. The broad-ranging empire is not all doing well at the moment with the Virgin Atlantic airline announcing a reduction in its workforce by up to 600 jobs but other businesses doing very well. The lure of F1 is not obvious, apart from as a brand-building exercise, but it could be related to Virgin Fuel. Branson says he is investing $1bn in alternative fuels for cars and airliners. Using F1 would be a good way to promote the idea.

Virgin has been operating since the early 1970s when Richard Branson first launched the Virgin record label, shops, followed by a film company, games, the airline in 1984, holidays, airships, hotels, radio stations, books, cola, vodka, trains, cosmetics, mobile phones, internet access and space travel. Virgin announced its diversification into new fuels in 2006.

The most interesting element of any potential bid for Honda's F1 team is that Branson has expressed an interest in motor racing before. in 1997 he said that Virgin would fund the British Grand Prix if it was run without any tobacco sponsorships. In 2000 Branson appeared in Monaco as a guest of his friend, next door neighbour and business partner Adrian Reynard, as the Reynard company was at the time designing seats for Virgin Atlantic airliners. Two years later there was a small sponsorship deal from Virgin Mobile for Eddie Jordan.

The most intriguing idea is that Branson might be involved in a bid to put Reynard in charge of the team of which he was one of the founders and a shareholder in the early days. Reynard still owns the land on which the team's factories are built and is believede to own one of the two buildings as well, although these are leased to the team. Reynard and Branson have long been pals and he is one of the founding members of Virgin Galactic, Branson's companmy dedicated to taking normal (rich) people into space.

[N. Jones]

I don't know who it is going to be but I hope Honda resolves the issue soon as it would look kind of strange seeing just 18 cars on the grid.

[Bagwan]

This is exactly the kind of thing with which Branson likes to be involved .

He might be the only one that got the green image that Honda has been trying on . He'd be one of the only ones who could make it work .

He's got both the brass and the balls to play the game .
If this comes to be , I think he will be a serious player right out of the gate .

I do worry , though , whether Reynard is the man to front the battle . I think he's out of his depth with an ego too big to understand .

[trumperZ06]

Baggie,

I saw simular reports about Virgin's interest yesterday.

One report had David Richard's & Pro-Drive associated with the possibility of Virgin's taking over Honda.

I think this is in the rummor stage... time will tell if anything comes about.

[Bagwan]

Baggie,

I saw simular reports about Virgin's interest yesterday.

One report had David Richard's & Pro-Drive associated with the possibility of Virgin's taking over Honda.

I think this is in the rummor stage... time will tell if anything comes about.

It all fits nicely , though , Trump .

Reynard's ego wouldn't leave room for Fry .

I really hope this happens .

[jens]

Like has been said in another thread - so far all the companies, who have been engaged with Team Brackley's buyout, have denied the rumours and I expect Virgin to be another empty rumour.

Actually, Pitpass reports that it was Honda, who approached Virgin and not the other way around - an offer Virgin arguably rejected:
http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=37058

[trumperZ06]

It all fits nicely , though , Trump .

Reynard's ego wouldn't leave room for Fry .

I really hope this happens .

Yep... that seems to make the most sense...

Divad Richard's & his "Pro-Drive" opperation is capable of running a Formula One team.

Richards is way too smart to risk his own money in F-1, but with OPM (other peoples money) it's logical for him to run the team.

[Bagwan]

Yep... that seems to make the most sense...

Divad Richard's & his "Pro-Drive" opperation is capable of running a Formula One team.

Richards is way too smart to risk his own money in F-1, but with OPM (other peoples money) it's logical for him to run the team.

You know I can't stand Richards .
Firing his a$$ was the best thing Honda ever did .

http://www.crash.net/formula+one/new..._honda_f1.html

These guys have it that Virgin was there before the team announcement to sell .

[trumperZ06]

You know I can't stand Richards .
Firing his a$$ was the best thing Honda ever did .

http://www.crash.net/formula+one/new..._honda_f1.html

These guys have it that Virgin was there before the team announcement to sell .

Yeah, I'm not a Richards (his character) fan either.


What he did to Villeneuve was terrible.

That said... he did improve their Formula One team and Pro-Drive's success has been outstanding. IMO... his managing Honda would be a good fit.

[BDunnell]

If any big project that might conceivably fit in with Virgin's brand image ever needs cash, Branson is always mentioned. He almost never ends up providing any backing. I would be amazed if this story will end up being any different.