Prodrive

OSTKURVE · 24 Oct 2006, 10:55 (Ref:1747361)

Do you think that David Richards' Prodrive Gran Prix outfit will be a force to be reckoned with in the 2008 season? It is my understanding that the car is currently under development @ Prodrive's new F1 facility. Without a doubt Prodrive has been successful in other areas of motorsport but will they competitive in F1 against the series larger established & perhaps more well funded teams?

Who's tipped to be their motor supplier?

climb · 24 Oct 2006, 11:04 (Ref:1747370)

Actually in Italy rumours have been recently hinting that Richards' intention is not to make an F1 car, but just to sell for some dozens millions € the licence he got free of charge just a few months ago.... not stupid this bloke!

Marbot · 24 Oct 2006, 11:05 (Ref:1747371)

Prodrive are hoping to buy a complete car/engine package from another team as defined in the 2008 regulations.Some of the teams aren't happy about this.

SALEEN S7R · 24 Oct 2006, 11:10 (Ref:1747375)

Indeed there is talk of Prodrive having effectively what is year old McLaren's. It would be a good start but if they want to be truely competive in future years they are of course best off developing their own car from scratch.

**BertMk2** · 24 Oct 2006, 11:12 (Ref:1747379)

Quote:

Originally Posted by OSTKURVE

Do you think that David Richards' Prodrive Gran Prix outfit will be a force to be reckoned with in the 2008 season?

Nope. The record for new teams coming in an being consistent front runners straight away isn't good.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OSTKURVE

It is my understanding that the car is currently under development @ Prodrive's new F1 facility.

I didn't think their F1 factory had been built yet? (I believe they only recently won the planning arguments)

Quote:

Originally Posted by OSTKURVE

Without a doubt Prodrive has been successful in other areas of motorsport but will they competitive in F1 against the series larger established & perhaps more well funded teams?

Possibly, they've got a good track record but they haven't got the available cash that the manufacturer teams have - that'll make it dificult for them to be truly competitive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OSTKURVE

Who's tipped to be their motor supplier?

Cosworth? (Possibly re-badged as something else). Honda, Renault, Ferrari and Toyota already supply more than one team (and are comitted to those teams into 2008?) so unless Mercedes or BMW cough up customer engines then Cosworth looks like being the way forward.

Ranald · 24 Oct 2006, 11:13 (Ref:1747381)

Prodrive certainly aren't developing there car at there new F1 facility in Warwick beacause that hasn't been built yet. Prodrive have said all there preliminary work in Banbury until Warwick is finished. As for engine suppliers I think they have spoken to nearly everyone and the same can be said for chassis.

cos · 24 Oct 2006, 11:18 (Ref:1747391)

Aston Martin badged Cosworths maybe? Or aren't there rumours about Hyundai and F1 currently?

GeeRam · 24 Oct 2006, 12:19 (Ref:1747480)

I wouldn't bet against there being a connection between Hyandai's 'statement' and Prodrive's future intentions.

But, there's also the Prodrive/Merc-Macca 'B team' rumours as well.

In some ways this, perhaps as a 2-3 year deal, might be the smarter move in terms of getting your infrastructure up and running to F1 speed while development on a bespoke project goes on in the background, and is something Prodrive do with other stuff already.

Whatever direction they take, I'm sure DR will create a slick operation.

chillibowl · 24 Oct 2006, 19:27 (Ref:1747994)

Quote:

Originally Posted by climb

Actually in Italy rumours have been recently hinting that Richards' intention is not to make an F1 car, but just to sell for some dozens millions € the licence he got free of charge just a few months ago.... not stupid this bloke!

im of this opinion as well.
he will either find full manufacturer backing or sell out. but either way he will be getting paid alot.
i dont see him as the type who would go into his own pocket to build up an F1 team like Stoddard or Sauber, or Minardi, or Jordan.

so much for another independent joining up!

kipper · 24 Oct 2006, 19:51 (Ref:1748033)

I wouldn't be at all surprised if David Richards sells the entry before too long. If not I doubt that the team will be funded by Prodrive and will use someone elses money.

Tone · 25 Oct 2006, 02:19 (Ref:1748357)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cos

Aston Martin badged Cosworths maybe? Or aren't there rumours about Hyundai and F1 currently?

Have cosworth given the FIA and engine for homologation\freeze or whatever they call it?

Smokey 6 litre · 25 Oct 2006, 16:53 (Ref:1749155)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tone

Have cosworth given the FIA and engine for homologation\freeze or whatever they call it?

it'd probly be worth giving the fiA the engines just in case they are called upon to provide for a team in the future.

it opens up an interesting loop hole in the law, what if say audi want to enter F1 in 2010 (i know its not gonna happen, just an example) they would then have to hologomate a brand new engine design with all the development of 2/3 years giving them an advantage, or are new teams restricted to the use of engines already hologomated for the 2007.

Marbot · 25 Oct 2006, 16:59 (Ref:1749165)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tone

Have cosworth given the FIA and engine for homologation\freeze or whatever they call it?

That would be a good idea.... just in case Jaguar want to come back.

T0MAT01 · 25 Oct 2006, 17:10 (Ref:1749176)

Quote:

Originally Posted by kipper

I wouldn't be at all surprised if David Richards sells the entry before too long. If not I doubt that the team will be funded by Prodrive and will use someone elses money.

Surely not..... Sponsorship?

kipper · 25 Oct 2006, 19:18 (Ref:1749298)

Quote:

Originally Posted by T0MAT01

Surely not..... Sponsorship?

Well obviously I assume that they'll have some of that. But would a sponsor really pay a fortune to a team, who's main visible activity would be improving their facilities to F1 standard, when they could hold off spending their money for a year and get some publicity from the team racing.

Phoenix1 · 25 Oct 2006, 21:19 (Ref:1749402)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tone

Have cosworth given the FIA and engine for homologation\freeze or whatever they call it?

They did say they would see the engine rights if someone wanted them so I assume they have

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Prodrive Team	GTV27	Australasian Touring Cars.	8	1 Feb 2003 09:46
Prodrive for ps2 who has it	jslone	Virtual Racers	7	9 Nov 2002 05:51
Prodrive in a flash!	pink69	Touring Car Racing	1	11 Jul 2002 22:51
Prodrive to take on Vette's again	pink69	Sportscar & GT Racing	4	5 Jul 2002 20:39
Prodrive	marcus	Sportscar & GT Racing	1	4 Jul 2000 17:20