What are F1 customer cars?

[bil588]

Are they rules for the 2008 season? Does this mean a team like Oreca could race an MP4-22?

http://www.oreca.fr/

[FPV GTHO]

I believe the idea for customer cars next year is drafted in. David Richards believes theyre solidly in place, whilst Frank Williams believes the issue isnt set in stone yet.

The big thing that would stop that idea is that all the spots are filled for next year, with only 12 teams allowed. If Oreca were to buy out an existing team, or there was an additional team allowed to which they were it, then yes they would theoretically be allowed to buy an MP4-22 from McLaren and race it next year.

Next year we'll probably see identical cars between RBR/STR, Honda/Super Aguri and Prodrive/McLaren, although theres alot of rumours surrounding which direction Prodrive are going.

[Born Racer]

Presumably Prodrive will have to sort out something soon, otherwise they´ll have to actually build their own car.

I think the 12th slot should have gone to someone who was going to do just that. I wonder why Prodrive did get the slot. Any ideas? What criteria was the decision based upon?

[roachy101]

i hope that prodrive try and keep independent because if there's too many second teams, it would lose F1's appeal (not that it's losing it already) plus there would be less competition due to them havong the same engine, chassis etc. Just look at Super Aguri and their performance compared to Honda for proof

[FPV GTHO]

Prodrive do have the intention to make their own car, but around 2011-2012. For the immediate future they want to buy a ready to go chassis and engine. Makes sense too, as they'd probably be 3s off the pace for all of next year with their own chassis.

[Marbot]

At the moment,no one has actually signed anything (2008 concorde agreement) to say that customer cars will be legal next season.There are rules and regulations drawn up,but as we've seen recently,these can be changed at will by the current teams.

At the moment I don't think that Prodrive are quite sure what they are supposed to be doing about next season.Dave Richards seems to think that it is clear cut that he can use an existing car for next season.And what if there were to be a radical change in the rules at some point.How would a new team enter without having to build its own car.

[roachy101]

true. they'll probably get given mercedes or bmw engines though although there's rumours about cosworth being back for next year

[Super Hans]

Is there a possibility that Prodrive could enter under the Aston Martin marque, having recently aquired the company?

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by roachy101

although there's rumours about cosworth being back for next year

It's a perfectly good F1 engine,that would require very little modification to become competetive in a decent car.It would be great to see an independent engine manufacturer back in F1.I'd give'm double constructor points.

[Sev]

Originally Posted by Super Hans

Is there a possibility that Prodrive could enter under the Aston Martin marque, having recently aquired the company?

That was discussed and Dave Richards actually commented upon it (in Autosport).

The general jist of the comment was along the lines: Maybe one day. Not when we enter. We're using another constructors cars when we're entering, and Aston Martin could never do that (nor would another constructor allow it).

Basically, Aston Martin will have to wait until Prodrive manage to build their own car.

[FPV GTHO]

They may too want to establish their own chassis in a competitive state before taking the AM name. Something along the lines of the first 3 years using customer equipment, the next 3-5 still under the "Prodrive" moniker, before finally being in a position where racing under the Aston Martin banner wouldnt devalue the road car brand.

[Born Racer]

Something along the lines of the first 3 years using customer equipment, the next 3-5 still under the "Prodrive" moniker, before finally being in a position where racing under the Aston Martin banner wouldnt devalue the road car brand.

Wouldn't such an approach be a little too transparent as a marketing exercise?