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Robbo
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« on: December 04, 2008, 10:56:40 pm » |
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Formula One is bracing itself for an announcement by the Honda Racing team on Friday morning that could pave the way for one of grand prix racing's biggest names to exit the sport.
Amid the worldwide financial downturn and the impact that has had on Honda's car sales, it is understood that the Brackley-based team's future is now in serious doubt.
Insiders have told autosport.com that the team's senior staff were called for a meeting at the factory on Thursday afternoon and informed that Honda in Japan were no longer willing to bankroll the outfit.
It is suggested that the team will be put up for sale - and if no buyer is found by March then the manufacturer will simply pull the plug and withdraw from the sport.
Amid the current financial climate, it is unclear where Honda Racing would hope to find a buyer willing to support a Formula One team - with budgets already in excess of £100 million per year.
There are suggestions, however, that Honda may be willing to offload the team free of charge to anyone willing to support it - and they could even continue to supply engines for a period of time until another technical partner is found.
However, sources have suggested that team principal Ross Brawn is already eyeing a tie-up with Ferrari for power-units should a buyer be found - with the Italian manufacturer having spare capacity now after ending their deal with Force India.
It is understood that Brawn and F1 CEO Nick Fry are scheduled to fly to meetings in Tokyo on Monday to discuss the future of the team with Japanese bosses - and especially define what happens if no buyer is found.
Honda Racing remained silent about the speculation on Thursday evening, with neither press officers nor senior team personnel available for comment. It is understood the staff informed of the decision were told not to discuss the matter prior to an official announcement being made.
It is expected Honda will issue a press release early on Friday morning revealing their plans. It comes after a challenging year for the team, which had begun a rebuilding process under the leadership of Brawn.
Any pullout by Honda Racing will send shockwaves through F1, and cast question marks over the future of other manufacturers' longterm participation. It would also come several months after FIA president Max Mosley warned that the sport was unsustainable at the moment because of the high costs needed to compete.
It would also mean the grid being reduced to just 18 cars, and would leave drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello without seats.
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Pessimist - Glass half empty
Optimist - Glass half full
Engineer - Glass twice as big as needed
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Werner
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« Reply #1 on: December 05, 2008, 08:39:57 am » |
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Any news, whether this decision will also affect their Acura LMP1 project in the ALMS?
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"… to be honest, I did it purely for the money at first. I went to Le Mans
hoping that the car would break down. I came away in love with the place." - Eddie Irvine
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smokie
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« Reply #2 on: December 05, 2008, 09:09:57 am » |
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nopanic - neil
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« Reply #3 on: December 05, 2008, 09:29:05 am » |
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Out of interest, what was Honda's budget for F1 and Acura's budget for ALMS ? Heard on the radio yesterday, sales of Merc and Bmw in USA is already down 40%. Cars are just sitting in the docks waiting for shipment to anywhere, but no dealers want them. So who's next and in which motorsport? |
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If you're going through hell, keep going.
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Nordic
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« Reply #4 on: December 05, 2008, 10:21:09 am » |
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Its hard to believe that any racing program will be unaffected by the current slump.
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Some people will tell you that slow is good - and it may be, on some days - but I am here to tell you that fast is better.
H S Thompson 1937 - 2005
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Bobblehat
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« Reply #5 on: December 05, 2008, 10:43:31 am » |
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I hope they do find a buyer, I have couple of mates who work there (with the other 800) its not going to a great Christmas for them. Also if does go, there are going to be a lot of business local to me that will suffer as well.
It is not a good time to involved in motorsport
Bobblehat
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Nordic
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« Reply #6 on: December 05, 2008, 12:18:24 pm » |
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http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=36687This is Max's idea to save F1, given that he is part of the group that has brought F1 to this point maybe he should follow Honda out the door. So std engines + gearboxs? not the way to inspire car makers to contine in F1 I would have thought, maybe they will all pull out and sell the teams back to the original owners who will stuff a cossi into thier own chassis. hang on.......
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Some people will tell you that slow is good - and it may be, on some days - but I am here to tell you that fast is better.
H S Thompson 1937 - 2005
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Doris
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« Reply #7 on: December 05, 2008, 01:57:53 pm » |
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Live imperfectly and with great delight.
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pretzel
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« Reply #8 on: December 05, 2008, 02:42:28 pm » |
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Out of interest, what was Honda's budget for F1 and Acura's budget for ALMS ? Heard on the radio yesterday, sales of Merc and Bmw in USA is already down 40%. Cars are just sitting in the docks waiting for shipment to anywhere, but no dealers want them. So who's next and in which motorsport? Heard on the news that the budget for F1 was 500 million, not sure if it was $ or £ though. Either way it's quite a lot to finish nowhere. |
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A man's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another drink - W.C. Fields
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Andy Zarse
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« Reply #9 on: December 05, 2008, 03:57:50 pm » |
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If I might give my considered opinion on what is a very serious matter; f**k Formula 1, f**k Bernie, f**k Max, f**k the FIA, f**k Honda, f**k all the other teams. f**k the sponsors, f**k the curcuits, f**k James Allen, f**k the TV rights and f**k the BBC. f**k them. f**k them all. f**k them all the time.  Edited to add f**k Ferrari. Especially f**k Ferrari. |
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« Last Edit: December 05, 2008, 06:24:22 pm by Andy Zarse »
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I wouldn't sit there if I were you, it's still a bit wet.
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Bob U
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« Reply #10 on: December 05, 2008, 04:07:55 pm » |
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Oh come on Andy, stop sitting on the fence, tell us what you really think of all this.
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There is a corner of a foreign field that will be forever England ------ Houx Annexe
And the bastards have built on it.
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Andy Zarse
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« Reply #11 on: December 05, 2008, 04:14:27 pm » |
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Oh come on Andy, stop sitting on the fence, tell us what you really think of all this.
f**k Bob U too! |
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I wouldn't sit there if I were you, it's still a bit wet.
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Lorry
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« Reply #12 on: December 05, 2008, 10:54:40 pm » |
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........Heard on the news that the budget for F1 was 500 million, not sure if it was $ or £ though. Either way it's quite a lot to finish nowhere.
Also on the news, was Barak bin Obama spent 500million to get into the white house for 4 years. For that you only get into F1 for a year. |
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GENTLEMEN - Start your livers
For and on behalf of the Kent Kronenberg Owners Club
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Boorish Grobian
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« Reply #13 on: December 05, 2008, 11:41:38 pm » |
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Word on the street over here is that Honda has been looking into joining the NASCAR ranks, which would make sense given that the US is their largest market and there's no F1 race in North America. Also more bang for the buck considering cost vs number of races.
However NASCAR has also been feeling the economic crunch with several high profile teams struggling to find sponsorship for 2009.
Fax
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