For Sale: Toro Rosso.

[Down F0rce]

Toro Rosso are up for sale.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/65874

[Marbot]

Now's yer chance Stoddy!

[BootsOntheSide]

This is a good opportunity for someone new to get onto the grid, with a car of their own design. Unfortunate to have such uncertainty for 2 years though.

[Pro Racer]

will be an interesting outcome.

[Ralf's Girl]

I wonder whether they'll find a buyer who'll be able to make them competitive - at the moment they're doing okay but that's probably as much to do with their link with Red Bull as anything else. Considering that the last new team into F1 was supposed to be using customer cars, I'm not sure that there's a huge number of potential buyers who want to build their own cars.

[dazbaz_99]

Prodrive's chance to get on the grid?

[Ralf's Girl]

Only if they want to build the car - they didn't want to do that this year, so who's to say they'd want to do it in 2 years' time?

[bludvl_x19]

How does 10-TenthsF1 sound? Who else wants to chip in the $xxmillion that we would need?

Mick

[Gt_R]

A chance to get into F1 with a base, to have a transition of running a team for a year before designing your own machine.

But that said, whoever takes over the team will need to do some recruitment. I understand that the team is very lean in numbers/facilities as they are essentially just taking their cars from Red Bull.

Good thing though concerning the customer car issue.

[FPV GTHO]

Originally Posted by BootsOntheSide

Unfortunate to have such uncertainty for 2 years though.

I dont think its that bad. The targets Mateschitz has set are the team will be sold by 2010, but not before 2009. In the same amount of time from now till 2010, i'm sure the former Jordan team had already found a new buyer and subsequently sold the team again.

[kipper]

I'm not overly surprised that the team is now formally for sale given that such rumours have been circulating for some time. As for who buys it I would imagine that Tony Teixeira will be one of the front runners for he seems to have the money and desire to enter the fray. Also he has some links with Ferrari, which may be of use in securing a continued engine supply.

[Sodemo]

Two years is plenty of time to find another owner, I am willing to bet that Force India will have another 3 or 4 owners in that time frame.

[Satorian]

Time for a Gazprom-backed Russian team.

[BootsOntheSide]

I think Force India might be for real, they seem more committed and forward-planning than Midland, and more financially secure than Spyker.

I'm sure the team will find a buyer, lots of people seem keen to enter F1 at the moment.

[johntt]

I just hope STR don't go through the same rigmarole that Jordan did and that they find someone committed to running the team.

One of the rumours is Teixiera and Nicolas Todt. ART F1 team anyone?

[ThePenguin]

It had been rumored that VW Group would buy them when they went up for sale, but it seems doubtful now.

[SALEEN S7R]

A.R.T could be a potential buyer yes, there was a lot of speculation about the team moving up to Formula One a couple of years ago but for whatever reason it didnt happen. Of the existing teams outside F1 however I would think they are one of the most likely candidates.

There are of course other big existing teams like Oreca, Prodrive, Arden, Carlin etc but I dont think that even they have the backing needed to enter F1. What is more likely though I would think is some billionare buying the existing team, as has been the norm in recent years.

[climb]

Originally Posted by dazbaz_99

Prodrive's chance to get on the grid?

oh that would be an interesting outcome!!

[Kidzer]

Weren't Racing Engineering looking at the possibility of F1 involvement?

I'm sure I read that on tenths a while ago, although I don't remember if it was Alfonso who said it.

How much does Mr Red Bull want, I might be interested

[Born Racer]

How does 10-TenthsF1 sound? Who else wants to chip in the $xxmillion that we would need?

I can chip in a tenner. It's not much I know, but I have good news. I'll drive for free. So, who's my team-mate then? Shall we keep Bourdais or Vettel?

[Charlies]

We'd have a hard time keeping Vettel, I'd imagine he'll move to Red Bull next year.

Whoever takes it over is going to need big pockets. Haven't Red Bull closed down most of STR's design and manufacture capacity? I suppose they could commission Dallara or Lola to design and build a car.

[f1manoz]

PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! Bring the Minardi name back....

[ECW Dan Selby]

Originally Posted by Gt_R

A chance to get into F1 with a base, to have a transition of running a team for a year before designing your own machine.

Definately, I think this could actually be quite an attractive proposition for someone looking to start an F1 team out there... I say it like any member of the public could

Selby

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by Charlies

I suppose they could commission Dallara or Lola to design and build a car.

But isn't that against the rules? As whoever takes over has to design their own cars.

Please Audi, enter F1 and take on BMW annd Mercades.

[Knowlesy]

Another manufacturer team would be hideous.

Supply engines by all means Audi (not diesel) but do not start/buy a team.

Sad news that STR are up for sale but sadly inevitable I suppose.