PCR initiated 4 Car Superteam??

[Axeman444]

Interesting no one has mentioned yet, but the comments in MeNews this week re WSR/PCR wanting to form a 4-Car "SuperTeam" ala Walkinshoddy's, centering on "sharing factory space, engineering know-how and marketing possibilities" and has spoken to at least 2 other teams have perked my interest.

who would/could they merge with? Given that you would expect there to be little point in merging "engineering know-how" with a team running a non 888 chassis, you would expect it to be 888, DJR or Inta. As Paul Cruikshank seems to be the instigator, and seems to want to be at least 50 percent in control, it would be unlikely to be 888. this leaves DJR and Inta. "Sharing Factory space" would also seem to preclude any non-Gold Coast teams, unless they wanted to move, BUT, see point re chassis. Given he is thinking of 4 cars, at the moment this would be DJR, but has Marshall not indicated they want to run 2 cars next year?

Would be good if this concretes the finances of DJR (if they are indeed still needing concreting after the Waverly deal) as my favourite team would be joined with the good old underdog and best performing "kiwi" team, and what i consider to be the 2 best liveries out there this year...

[GTRMagic]

The concept makes sense on some level.. 4 cars from the same shed, prepared by the same team, with a core group of ace engineering talent spread across those vehicles.

But I dont see it working as a customer operation, where the car is essentially 'bought in' as regardless of whatever is happening inside those 4 cars, their knowledge will never be as strong as the originating manufacturer

I see a 4 car SBR team as a strong one, with SBR engineering all 4 cars, as opposed to the current deal with Britek, which is largely preparation only. For sure this squad could do with a marketing kick, and some shiny new, cashed up sponsors bringing this place back to the powerhouse it was not that long ago.

Is PCR the squad to bring any of this to the table? They dont outright own enough of their own equipment or resources to suggest that the value add would be significant... perhaps it might work if the PCR operation brought sponsors to a team's other car, that they might run with someone like an SBR, with their single REC, alongside the primary Britek REC, and the 2 SBR REC's....

If the cash was right, the 4 cars would probably do very nicely.

[Racenut7]

PCR & FPR????

[Axeman444]

whats the point of sharing with 2 different manufactured chassis??

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by Axeman444

whats the point of sharing with 2 different manufactured chassis??

Not a lot... hence the customer team thing probably wont work.

If FPR build 4 cars (and lets not forget that PCR doesnt actually own the #111 FG) plus spares, and run them from the huge facility they have... the team will be stronger from a financial standpoint, and there should be 4 competitive cars in the series from that one shed, instead of multiple sheds as is now

[Pro Racer]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Not a lot... hence the customer team thing probably wont work.

If FPR build 4 cars (and lets not forget that PCR doesnt actually own the #111 FG) plus spares, and run them from the huge facility they have... the team will be stronger from a financial standpoint, and there should be 4 competitive cars in the series from that one shed, instead of multiple sheds as is now

yeah 4 competitive cars if they get rid of Patrizi.

[V8 Fireworks]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Not a lot... hence the customer team thing probably wont work.

If FPR build 4 cars (and lets not forget that PCR doesnt actually own the #111 FG) plus spares, and run them from the huge facility they have... the team will be stronger from a financial standpoint, and there should be 4 competitive cars in the series from that one shed, instead of multiple sheds as is now

But if cars #x and #y (or drivers or franchise holds thereof) bring a much smaller budget than #5 or #6, then doesn't that open a whole grey area in terms of preparation.

If they go to FPR to have a fast car, but with 'optional upgrades' only have a fast car if they spend $5 million per car but they can only bring half that for example, then does it defeat the point of going to FPR?

Unless they have large interest on the ability/development skill of the pilot of x or y and see a benefit to 5 and 6, Prodrive would just be a company looking to make $ possibly?

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by V8 Fireworks

But if cars #x and #y (or drivers or franchise holds thereof) bring a much smaller budget than #5 or #6, then doesn't that open a whole grey area in terms of preparation.

If they go to FPR to have a fast car, but with 'optional upgrades' only have a fast car if they spend $5 million per car but they can only bring half that for example, then does it defeat the point of going to FPR?

Unless they have large interest on the ability/development skill of the pilot of x or y and see a benefit to 5 and 6, Prodrive would just be a company looking to make $ possibly?

There is a fundamental difference between participating in motor racing, and competiting in motor racing....

[Just Do It!]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Lets not forget that PCR doesnt actually own the #111 FG

Who owns the #111 car?

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by Just Do It!

Who owns the #111 car?

The same person who owned the #111 (and now #333) car last season

[madman16]

PCR and IR teaming together would probably make the most sense at this stage wouldn't it? I see it as a benefit for both teams to share some of the costs with as both probably don't have as much cash as others out there. Cost sharing could be real beneficial to Marshall right now, and 3 is still better than 2 isn't it?

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by madman16

PCR and IR teaming together would probably make the most sense at this stage wouldn't it? I see it as a benefit for both teams to share some of the costs with as both probably don't have as much cash as others out there. Cost sharing could be real beneficial to Marshall right now, and 3 is still better than 2 isn't it?

But PCR isnt a genuine 2 car team, their REC is leased from Britek, for this season only apparently, while Britek may reclaim it at season's end to use it themselves, or indeed onsell it....

IntaRacing brought 5 team members to Winton.. presumably they had to share pit lane crew with their pitboom buddy... unless some $$ wanders through that door shortly, its hard to see how it will survive either.

[madman16]

My point was that teams that aren't as financially strong would be more inclined to join forces ala Britek.

The licence ownership is a good point though however unless there's some dollars coming to Britek, it's sale would look most likely wouldn't it?

[Crash Test]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

IntaRacing brought 5 team members to Winton.. presumably they had to share pit lane crew with their pitboom buddy... unless some $$ wanders through that door shortly, its hard to see how it will survive either.

I would have thought that John Marshall was one of the wealthier people floating around the paddock. What happened to the money set aside to buy organisations such as DJR and PWR?

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by Crash Test

I would have thought that John Marshall was one of the wealthier people floating around the paddock. What happened to the money set aside to buy organisations such as DJR and PWR?

IntaRacing, and the IntaBill group are still the REC holder and team owner at the moment... while this may change... it doesnt seem Mr Marshall Sr is fronting the operation with funds to any visible degree

[Crash Test]

When was the last time he didn't assist in the funding of his son's drive?

[GTRMagic]

Interesting to read in MeN this week that Mr Bright has tested the #111 PCR Wilson Security Falcon today....

... and the story goes that Britek may shift their preparation deal from SBR to PCR for next season!

There is discussion of Fujitsu continuing with Britek, although that sponsor has shown no outward sign of extending that relationship, to become a 3 car PCR team.

Interesting times... I wonder what it does to SBR?

[motofan]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Interesting to read in MeN this week that Mr Bright has tested the #111 PCR Wilson Security Falcon today....

... and the story goes that Britek may shift their preparation deal from SBR to PCR for next season!

There is discussion of Fujitsu continuing with Britek, although that sponsor has shown no outward sign of extending that relationship, to become a 3 car PCR team.

Interesting times... I wonder what it does to SBR?

Interesting times sums it up I think, i cant see how this would help either party, WSR dont develop there own car the majority of that is done by roland and his mob and there packing up and moving to holden so development of WSR fg will come to a stand still.
The only other option would be for wilson to form a technical relationship with fpr/sbr which brighty already has make a 3 car team hence securing the second WSR licence and go from there but why bother, why not just let WSR form there own alliance? seems odd to me

[motofan]

sorry just to clear things up by the first point I mean i cannot see an advantage for brighty or the WSR guys because for brighty he is not at the forefront of the development of the car because WSR dont have the capacity for car development and for WSR brighty aint gonna bring that with him

[motofan]

there is one thing i did foget DJR, WSR establish technical relationship with DJR
bright jumps on board renues the lease on the 2nd WSR licence run 3 cars that leave 5 cars in the djr camp and 5 in the stones and fpr camp if the third car rumour goes ahead sounds good to me

[V8 Fireworks]

Yep that sounds good if DJR will go for it. The engines and suspension bits from the DJR shed seem to be pretty good quality, hopefully that could bring extra cash into DJR and some excellent go-fast bits into PCR and Britek 888 FGs.

[GTRMagic]

I suspect the arrival of Mr Bright to PCR, presuming it happens, would be to put a driver in the car that can be trotted out to supporters, sponsors, customers etc as the 1998 Bathurst winner, and of course main game round winner.

It seems a leap of faith to consider that Fujitsu is returning, there have been no announcement of this, and indeed Mr Bright has been specifically excluded from Fujitsu marketing events, building openings etc where Mr Taylor and Mr Beretta were in attendance instead.

What is the more likely scenario... from dreamtime... is possibly for Mr Bright to bring the #26 REC to PCR... to take the 2nd seat at PCR/WSR, in Wilson Security backing... while the #25 REC can be leased/sold off...

Stranger things have happened... it would get Mr McMellan some headlines about his team from something other than painting the cars pink!

[Axeman444]

this will still leave PCR and DJR as standalone 2 car teams, while DJR do have good engines, what do PCR have? i still think they will have to combine OR buy new chassis and go down the route of alignment with SBR or FPR to continue with a chance of winning...

[SJA]

Silly, silly Ford... So Brighty and his 2x RECs are looking to allign themselves with a non-Ford supported team?

Very sad Ford - I hope you have an ace up your sleave that none of us know about... Or it seems another stupid move (or lack of making a move) by Ford. Ford would have done better to facilitate a move of Brights two RECs to FPR (to get their 4-car team) and get him into the #4 SBR car so he can be in a Ford supported car and remain in Qld as well as giving SBR the driver boost they need.

[GTRMagic]

It suggests that the love between Mr Bright and SBR may be over too....