"FPR saved from oblivion in shock sale" - Speedcafe

[peckstar]

new owners at FPR after prodrive Sell

[kittle]

"In a shock development, Richards, the owner of the British racing and engineering firm Prodrive, has shed the Melbourne-based Ford factory squad, selling out to Rod Nash and Rusty French."

Well I saw this coming but I didn't see Rod Nash and Rusty French buying the team.

http://www.speedcafe.com/2013/01/04/...in-shock-sale/

[peckstar]

Originally Posted by kittle

In a shock development, Richards, the owner of the British racing and engineering firm Prodrive, has shed the Melbourne-based Ford factory squad, selling out to Rod Nash and Rusty French.

Well we saw this coming but i didn't see Rod Nash and Rusty French buying the team.

http://www.speedcafe.com/2013/01/04/...in-shock-sale/

imagined it was on the cards as soons as prodrive sold FPV. just a matter of finding a buyer

Rusty French, must be 80 plus

[kittle]

Originally Posted by peckstar

imagined it was on the cards as soons as prodrive sold FPV. just a matter of finding a buyer

Rusty French, must be 80 plus

My thoughts too. But he has the money.

I missed my chance to buy the team. I wonder what the final sale price was.

[peckstar]

Originally Posted by kittle

My thoughts too. But he has the money.

I missed my chance to buy the team. I wonder what the final sale price was.

I decided not to buy.

Not sure an investment in FPR is a good financial move. A one year manufacturer deal with a manufacturer who is going backwards (Focus was top selling car in 2012) Tic Toc

[Mixer]

Ooo that is fairly big news. One wonders whether the hefty Ford/FPR subsidy can continue, and whether FPR will have to find real sponsorship dollars akin to the other big teams or continue to do knock-down sponsorship deals.

[mayhem]

I was keen but the lack of a TV deal lowered my interest.

[Scrut]

Skye Sands as a major sponsor for the 4th car???????????????

[kittle]

Originally Posted by Scrut

Skye Sands as a major sponsor for the 4th car???????????????

I would think Rusty would sponsor his own cars of #5 and #6 before the #18 car.

Sky Sands will be on at least 2 of the cars.

[Umai Naa]

I had expressed interest.

With Christmas and everything, I decided it wasn't worth the extra stress.

[Downoz]

Well I was extremely interested, even had team Manager organised, black wiggle, but alas no the Black WIggle said that he wanted a job that would last more than a year.

[GTRMagic]

Any bets that the Pepsi Max deal may only last til the end of 2013?

Where might FPR secure a backer paying $ 6m+ per annum with very little signage

[Alco]

Pepsi Max was announced as a 3 year deal. Why would that change?

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Any bets that the Pepsi Max deal may only last til the end of 2013?

Where might FPR secure a backer paying $ 6m+ per annum with very little signage

[Downoz]

Originally Posted by Alco

Pepsi Max was announced as a 3 year deal. Why would that change?

Because no one these days dont have a get out clause. No doubt there is going to be some interesting, and some hard and difficult times, for teams this year.
When a TV deal is announced things may get a little rosier.

[Senna05]

This is not the first time a team with Euro influence has lost it's backer. And frankly, with Prodrive's gradual fall from grace over the past 5 years, it had to be expected.

Rod Nash has been a team owner in this series for well over 10 years, and has been involved with the sport for longer. Mr French's pedigree and involvement also need not be questioned. Arguably, FPR will be in better long term shape than HRT, who had endured the garbage with Holden / Skaife / Walkinshaw.

The key will be keeping cash flow through the team, keeping the backers at Broadmeadows happy, and as Mr Crennan once said, putting a 'bloody big fence' around the crew who are supplying the current decent results.

[mspence]

Hmmmm.

Rats? Ship?

[pete60]

[QUOTE

Rusty French, must be 80 plus[/QUOTE]

Are you serious? John French may well be but Rusty would be mid 60s and still doing the odd race. And a pretty astute business man.

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by pete60

[QUOTE

Rusty French, must be 80 plus

Are you serious? John French may well be but Rusty would be mid 60s and still doing the odd race. And a pretty astute business man.[/QUOTE]

He had a nice feature in about him in Australian Muscle Car earlier this year. Sounds like he is still pretty involved.

I think it's a good move to save the team.

[Downoz]

John French is 82

Rusty French will be 70 on the 24th of this month.

[smokin'joe]

Originally Posted by Downoz

Rusty French will be 70 on the 24th of this month.

early birthday prezzy to himself then

[peckstar]

my mistake, i was only young at the time, but i had always assumed John French the 1981 bathurst winner was also Rusty French, just assumed it was a nickname.

Still its interesting that at a time Jim Stone is retiring (i assume he is somehwre around 70 (give or take 5) and LP who is only early 60's, that rusty is experimenting with team ownership

[STEALTHY]

I wonder if Rusty French knows how to quote on a forum.

[peckstar]

Originally Posted by STEALTHY

I wonder if Rusty French knows how to quote on a forum.

or even follow a discusion.

[Oldtony]

Watch it young fellas. You are getting ageist.
Us 75+ people must object.

[Downoz]

Originally Posted by peckstar

or even follow a discusion.

Dont take this to heart peckstar, at least us oldies know the difference between John French and Rusty French.

Hang a moment I am not old, it is just the mileage.