If Lola enter F1, will it affect their sportscar projects?

[Canada ALMS fan]

Originally Posted by JAG

You could see Lola designing a car for someone else, they're a constructor not a race team.

This to me seems unlikely as the financial incentives for the new teams are contingent upon them being a "contructor". By the same token the incentives ($10m USD plus free freight) would lower the funds required for Lola to enter as a proper team. That said I would much rather see Lola focus on its' sportscar business.

[deggis]

Originally Posted by JAG

You think so

It was neutral post. Just saying until yesterday situation was "IF budget cap is approved". Now it is approved. FIA already published 2010 regulations but FOTA is not happy because FIA did this now instead of waiting FOTA's response. Maybe everything is not set in stone.

The cap is no longer £30m but £40m, engines, driver pay and marketing aren't included, so your looking at a £50m-£60m budget to have any chance of competing.

Originally were included but last Wednesday (when Lola made their announcement, coincidence or not) FIA announced that drivers and marketing would not be included. You would think FIA would have made at least little bit consultation and informed interested parties about this earlier?

[rayburn]

I wonder if Bernie could manage on £40m a year... Doubt it.

[JAG]

Originally Posted by Canada ALMS fan

This to me seems unlikely as the financial incentives for the new teams are contingent upon them being a "contructor". By the same token the incentives ($10m USD plus free freight) would lower the funds required for Lola to enter as a proper team. That said I would much rather see Lola focus on its' sportscar business.

To be clearer I mean Lola would be a technical partner with someone who has the finances but not the facilities.

The likes of Mclaren and Williams started as race teams who constructed their own cars and made F1 their business, the car manufactuers are in it to sell road cars.

Constructors like Lola and Dallara make their money from selling customer cars, Dallara wouldn't give up their F3 business to enter an F1 car, just as Lola won't give up their sportscar program, but they could partner with investors or sponsors.

[Tim the Grey]

I remember, back in 1979, the Nigel Roebuck quote.
"Ensign run a Formula 1 team on less than Bernie Ecclestone budgets for Brabham lawyers' briefcases..."

[Tom908V12]

I'd be very disappointed if Lola goes to F1 !!! To my mind it's obvious that their motorsport activity strategy would completely change at the expense of endurance

[JAG]

Suprise, suprise, F1's salary cap is on the brink of implosion.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/75277

Now all we need is for Donington to go tits up.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/75265

Can you imagine what a potential disaster F1 would be for Lola after working so hard to get the company back on track!

[Mal]

Originally Posted by JAG

Suprise, suprise, F1's salary cap is on the brink of implosion.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/75277

I saw that and noted the comment that Luca DM has been asked to look into other possible activities for the racing team.

I am sure it is just posturing but it is about time the big teams told Max and Bernie to stick it up their rear end and moved over to sportscars.

Perhaps there is more to the Luca DM etc. attending LM this year storey?? Lets hope they are not just using it as leverage towards Bernie and Max.

[LeMans.pt]

Originally Posted by Mal

I am sure it is just posturing but it is about time the big teams told Max and Bernie to stick it up their rear end and moved over to sportscars.

Where the sun doesn't shine?

[deggis]

http://www.lolacars.com/newsstory.asp?NewsId=54

[cdsvg]

So its a done deal? Interesting times, for sure...

[CTD]

It kinda made me sad that news!. I Really wanted Lola to stick with Prototypes!

[Bostik]

So is it likely that this entry will become an MB / DR owned entry given their joint LMP1 activity?

[gwyllion]

I think Lola will need to re-examine the project when the budget cap is raised even further by FIA to please Ferrari, Renault, Toyota and Red Bull.

[deggis]

Originally Posted by cdsavage

So its a done deal? Interesting times, for sure...

Not as long as the budget cap is not done deal. But there is pressure now on both sides.

[NightStalk3r]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

I think Lola will need to re-examine the project when the budget cap is raised even further by FIA to please Ferrari, Renault, Toyota and Red Bull.

Yep they decide to go ahead just as the FIA and teams are meeting to readjust or remove the budget cap, bad timing on Lola's part.

[CTD]

Bad news from Epsilon Eskualdi also!
http://www.translate.google.dk/trans...&swap=1&swap=1
It has to stop!, otherwise FIA are going to kill prototype racing!.
Im very much against the budget caps now!

[NightStalk3r]

You can be certain the that Ferrari will demand the budget cap be raised to at Least 100 Million so it wont happen for Lola, AM or Epsilon.

[CTD]

Originally Posted by NightStalk3r

You can be certain the that Ferrari will demand the budget cap be raised to at Least 100 Million so it wont happen for Lola, AM or Epsilon.

Well, Ferrari wont be represented with there strongest speaker!
http://eurosport.yahoo.com/15052009/...sis-talks.html
This is really bad news too!, eventhough i dont like him, he is a strong person to stand against Max Mosley!

[deggis]

Originally Posted by CTD

It has to stop!, otherwise FIA are going to kill prototype racing!.
Im very much against the budget caps now!

Boohoo.

[JAG]

Does anyone seriously believe anymore than a couple of these entries will come off?

They all need to get an entry in soon or be locked out of a closed shop, hope to be selected, then will set about searching for funding.

When push comes to shove major manufacturers run the show, they'll either withdraw, leaving F1 to constructors like Williams, or get their way.

[deggis]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/75440

According to sources, the list of teams that were looking at moving to F1 were Lola, USF1, Wirth Research, Epsilon Euskadi, RML, Formtech, Campos Racing and iSport.

Another two outfits have also expressed an interest in moving up to F1. British F3 team Litespeed issued a statement declaring its intention to apply for an entry, while Prodrive has also admitted to be considering the move.

"Sources" here basically means what FIA said in the court (this Ferrari vs. FIA stuff).

[CTD]

Originally Posted by deggis

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/75440

"Sources" here basically means what FIA said in the court (this Ferrari vs. FIA stuff).

No not RML!

[acox93]

Wirth Reaserch is quite an interesting name on the list, could this mean the end of the road for their relationship with acura.

[Félix]

Originally Posted by acox93

Wirth Reaserch is quite an interesting name on the list, could this mean the end of the road for their relationship with acura.

Well it means they're currently using all their resources working on an F1 instead of updating the Acura. It's not gonna show until Audi is back and kicks the Acuras' butt.