New Chinese WTCC manufacturer - Page 5

Gabrio · 4 Jan 2005, 16:14 (Ref:1192945)

Rumor : Looks like J. Barnard left because he was not paid....Apparently Brilliance gives hardware and name but money has to be found to race the cars....

Go_For_Pole · 4 Jan 2005, 16:22 (Ref:1192950)

Hehe, here we go again, another Bachelor masterpiece

mystery racer · 4 Jan 2005, 16:44 (Ref:1192976)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabrio

Apparently Brilliance gives hardware and name but money has to be found to race the cars....

Why go to the trouble of having a long term plan to introduce Chinese drivers if they aren't even putting their hands in their pockets? There's got to be more to this surely?

SKWei · 4 Jan 2005, 21:24 (Ref:1193228)

Chinese companies are really stingy, and invariably try to do deals where they don't have to pay (based on my experience anyway!) so it could well just be that Brilliance have that policy. The result…well we'll have to wait and see!

Gabrio · 13 Jan 2005, 14:24 (Ref:1199878)

Batchelor to be in Paris at FIA headquarters on Monday for Brilliance homologation papers.

kmchow · 14 Jan 2005, 06:38 (Ref:1200575)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabrio

Batchelor to be in Paris at FIA headquarters on Monday for Brilliance homologation papers.

So if he's going to Paris on behalf of Brilliance, he must be still talking to Brilliance? So the cars should still appear as scheduled?

Gabrio · 14 Jan 2005, 06:48 (Ref:1200578)

Naturally : he's in charge of the program...

newoutsider · 14 Jan 2005, 11:01 (Ref:1200734)

It would be nice to get some hard facts now.

What do we know?

1. John Batchelor has created the deal to see a Brilliance works team in the WTCC, which may require outside commercial sponsorship
2. John Barnard was responsible for the basic racing car design and may or may not still be involved
3. VLR built the prototype / show car used at the WTCC launch and may or may not be involved in building and running the cars for the year
4. Series entry fees have been paid
5. The long term (2 - 3 year) deal is to develop 3 Chinese drivers
6. drivers names in the frame for 2005 / 2006 include a choice between Reid, Harvey & Leslie for 2 'senior seats' with a choice between Ferrier & Wilkinson for the 3rd seat
7. Homologation papers being posted with FIA on Monday (according to Gabrio).

On the car development front, I would now expect that they couldn't get ready for the first round (unless there is a lot of work already going on unseen)

On the driver front, at yeterday's Autosport show, Harvey stated he would be doing the Porsche cup again and also the TV stuff, which would seem to rule him out (I know that there are only a couple of conflicts and those are early), while Reid did say that he didn't have anything fixed yet. Leslie hasn't said anything publicly and also has a good track record in developing new cars so he may be the one driver already signed up while nither Wilkinson nor Ferrier have indicated anything firm.

Come Mr. B - I know that there will still be a lot of deal making to be doen, but surely some of this can be confirmed?????

racingdad · 14 Jan 2005, 11:35 (Ref:1200765)

Nice synopsis newoutsider

Super Tourer · 14 Jan 2005, 12:29 (Ref:1200816)

By contrast, Chevrolet have an all star line up with blend of youth and experience and in RML one of touring cars most highly rated teams, with an impeccable CV, who have the car out testing already....

newoutsider · 14 Jan 2005, 12:37 (Ref:1200821)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Super Tourer

who have the car out testing already....

well, sort of

Gabrio · 14 Jan 2005, 14:18 (Ref:1200906)

Quote:

Originally Posted by newoutsider

It would be nice to get some hard facts now.

What do we know?

1. John Batchelor has created the deal to see a Brilliance works team in the WTCC, which may require outside commercial sponsorship
Yes
2. John Barnard was responsible for the basic racing car design and may or may not still be involved
Not
3. VLR built the prototype / show car used at the WTCC launch and may or may not be involved in building and running the cars for the year
No. It was a street car, not a racing one. And VLR IS building the cars.
4. Series entry fees have been paid
Maybe......
5. The long term (2 - 3 year) deal is to develop 3 Chinese drivers
Yes, if they can be found..............
6. drivers names in the frame for 2005 / 2006 include a choice between Reid, Harvey & Leslie for 2 'senior seats' with a choice between Ferrier & Wilkinson for the 3rd seat
Reid, Morbidelli, Leslie serious candidates.
7. Homologation papers being posted with FIA on Monday (according to Gabrio).
That's me!

On the car development front, I would now expect that they couldn't get ready for the first round (unless there is a lot of work already going on unseen)
They'll be at the third race.

Come Mr. B - I know that there will still be a lot of deal making to be doen, but surely some of this can be confirmed?????

Nah, money first.....

newoutsider · 14 Jan 2005, 16:34 (Ref:1200983)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabrio

Nah, money first.....

You old cynic.....

Gabrio · 14 Jan 2005, 17:17 (Ref:1201009)

Quote:

Originally Posted by newoutsider

You old cynic.....

Gabrio · 15 Jan 2005, 23:16 (Ref:1201850)

Some news on Brilliance :
-They will sign on Monday in Paris their engagement in the WTCC for three years.
- Main candidates to drive : Reid & Morbidelli
- One car will be ready at first, with two cars for Silverstone and the third will appear in Mexico.

racingdad · 15 Jan 2005, 23:50 (Ref:1201878)

Looks like yu have a good source - Morbidelli perhaps, or his nearest contacts

Gabrio · 16 Jan 2005, 08:15 (Ref:1202032)

Nah, although I know many drivers you cannot count them as sources. But organizers of championships, people in motorsport management and sporting authorities are.......

**FIRE** · 16 Jan 2005, 12:37 (Ref:1202152)

I thought Morbidelli has a contract with Seat to do Italian endurance championship?

racingdad · 16 Jan 2005, 13:07 (Ref:1202167)

I very stronly fancy Reid for one of the two 'senior' drives and would personally like to see Wilkinson in one of the other seats; second in the very competitve UK SCC versus second in the German SCC (Terting). One has had a fully supported career, the other has had to fight every step of the way.

SFonseca · 16 Jan 2005, 14:09 (Ref:1202225)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabrio

- Main candidates to drive : Reid & Morbidelli

Where are the chinese drivers? Jim Ka To? Henry Lee jr? André Couto (MAC)? Rodolfo Avila (MAC)? Lei Chong Seng (MAC)?Lo Ka Chun?

racingdad · 16 Jan 2005, 14:38 (Ref:1202236)

I think the idea was to have some experienced European drivers this year (and next) and to get some Chinese drivers working with them so they could be ready to take over in about 3 years time. Clearly Brillaince (and John Batchelor) don't want to repeat the mistake of Proton who brought a very inexperienced Malasian driver to drive in the BTCC last year where the poor guy was way out of his depth.

mystery racer · 16 Jan 2005, 17:30 (Ref:1202329)

Quote:

Originally Posted by racingdad

I very stronly fancy Reid for one of the two 'senior' drives and would personally like to see Wilkinson

They along with Morbidelli would make a great team.

Morbidelli is well known throughout Europe and has a good racing pedigree. Reid was the class act of last years BTCC in the independent MG and won the BTCC Masters race. Wilkinson ended up as the best driver in the SEAT Cupra Championship last year.

They could do a lot worse!

Gabrio · 16 Jan 2005, 18:22 (Ref:1202368)

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIRE

I thought Morbidelli has a contract with Seat to do Italian endurance championship?

No, he had a contract to do 2 ETCC races last year (Monza & Imola) with Seat Sport Italia but Seat Italia was given an old test car in Monza and so they were disappointed with the parent company and decided not to bother. Morbidelli replaced Hezemans on GPC's Ferrari 575 in FIA Gt and was paired with Naspetti. No contract for 2005 as of now.

Gabrio · 16 Jan 2005, 18:24 (Ref:1202369)

Quote:

Originally Posted by SFonseca

Where are the chinese drivers? Jim Ka To? Henry Lee jr? André Couto (MAC)? Rodolfo Avila (MAC)? Lei Chong Seng (MAC)?Lo Ka Chun?

Dunno, I was concentrating on big names....

**FIRE** · 16 Jan 2005, 18:29 (Ref:1202374)

I think they had plans to prepare the Chinese drivers for the future not 2005.

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