47 replies to this topic

[DinocoBlue]

Autosport is running a story that Theodore Racing (1978-83) is considering a return to F1, although no date is specified and it seems to be just a preliminary thing.

 

Status managing director David Kennedy, who won races in the 1979 British Formula 1 Championship in a Theodore-run Wolf, told Autosport: "If there are sensible opportunities it's worth evaluating what's available."

 

 

Makes me wonder (just for the fun of it) what other names would you like to see back?

 

[R Soul]

McLaren

[SenorSjon]

Jordan

Tyrrell

Ligier

Brabham

Benetton

Arrows

[Christbiscuit]

Super Aguri

 

More teams should have Super in their names. Or Mega. Mega Force India. Ultra Williams.  More of this kind of thing.

[Maustinsj]

Über-Sauber

[Nathan]

Minardi.

 

 

Are we going to hear more 'interested parties' now that the independent engine is being pushed?  Hype up it's need/viability?

Edited by Nathan, 08 December 2015 - 15:50.

[HistoryFan]

It's a shame that cost are so high in F1. I liked the 80s and 90s with all that small racing teams. If costs would be cutting down I think we could see a lot of names like Theodore and Brabham  back in F1, but without that it's very unlikely. Perhaps as title sponsor but that's all.

[FerrariV12]

It's a shame that cost are so high in F1. I liked the 80s and 90s with all that small racing teams. If costs would be cutting down I think we could see a lot of names like Theodore and Brabham  back in F1, but without that it's very unlikely. Perhaps as title sponsor but that's all.

 

Even if there were 20 teams who could afford to run an F1 team (with various degrees of success), those late 80s/early 90s days probably won't happen again because once you got 12 or 13 teams the FIA and/or Bernie would look to cap the field and force newcomers to buy existing teams to enter, sadly.

[maximilian]

March, Lola, Penske, Hesketh - and yes, definitely Minardi and Super Aguri.

[Dan333SP]

Life Racing and Rial. Both were top-shelf organizations that missed their chances at glory through sheer bad luck.

[JHSingo]

Eh, call me a party pooper but these old names don't do anything for me. In most situations, the name has nothing to do with the original team anymore.

 

Take the ridiculous Lotus situation of a couple of years ago. Two teams both pretending to be Lotus, when neither of them really had any meaningful connection to that legendary name. It's just a cynical branding exercise.

 

I'd rather new teams come in and make their own identity, rather than pretending to be someone they're not. For that reason, I'm not sad to see Lotus become Renault, seeing as it wasn't the real, original Lotus in the first place.

 

If a team comes back and legitimately has a connection to the old name they're using, great. If it's just a name they're using for marketing purposes, sod off and stop dragging that name through the mud.

[FerrariV12]

Life Racing and Rial. Both were top-shelf organizations that missed their chances at glory through sheer bad luck.

 

Tongue in cheek I know but Rial actually weren't that bad in their first year with de Cesaris and a Gustav Brunner-designed car. All seemed to go downhill quite quickly the following year though (a fluke 4th place in Phoenix aside)

[Rob]

Minardi. That is all.

[Baddoer]

Andrea Moda

[FerrariV12]

Eh, call me a party pooper but these old names don't do anything for me. In most situations, the name has nothing to do with the original team anymore.

 

Take the ridiculous Lotus situation of a couple of years ago. Two teams both pretending to be Lotus, when neither of them really had any meaningful connection to that legendary name. It's just a cynical branding exercise.

 

I'd rather new teams come in and make their own identity, rather than pretending to be someone they're not. For that reason, I'm not sad to see Lotus become Renault, seeing as it wasn't the real, original Lotus in the first place.

 

If a team comes back and legitimately has a connection to the old name they're using, great. If it's just a name they're using for marketing purposes, sod off and stop dragging that name through the mud.

 

Pretty much agree with you here, although I guess it depends how tenuous a link each of us would be willing to tolerate.

 

Personally, I'd be all for a revived Theodore if Yip Jr. was involved, likewise Brabham with David heading it up. But also, say if Force India or Toro Rosso were to revert to Jordan or Minardi, even without Eddie or Giancarlo's involvement, I'd

be in favour. I'd probably even be pleased with a revived Tyrrell should Mercedes ever sell up (even if only the company number is the same) - but that last example is probably about my limit.

Edited by FerrariV12, 08 December 2015 - 17:04.

[BRG]

Ensign

 

Oh and Walter (Toto) Wo(o)lf Racing.  With Susie.

[PlatenGlass]

Eh, call me a party pooper but these old names don't do anything for me. In most situations, the name has nothing to do with the original team anymore.
 
Take the ridiculous Lotus situation of a couple of years ago. Two teams both pretending to be Lotus, when neither of them really had any meaningful connection to that legendary name. It's just a cynical branding exercise.
 
I'd rather new teams come in and make their own identity, rather than pretending to be someone they're not. For that reason, I'm not sad to see Lotus become Renault, seeing as it wasn't the real, original Lotus in the first place.
 
If a team comes back and legitimately has a connection to the old name they're using, great. If it's just a name they're using for marketing purposes, sod off and stop dragging that name through the mud.

That Lotus team shouldn't become Renault either because they're not the original Renault!

But generally I agree about names coming back. It doesn't really make them the same team. I think it's often a shame when a team leaves, but coming back years later under different management and ownership doesn't make it better again.

But I do miss the days when we had more teams and the list of teams was more than just the hollowed out husk that we have now. When I started watching in the 80s, we had Renault, Brabham and Lotus that were all front-running teams, and they're all gone now, even if the Lotus and Renault names have hovered around since their original departure. So that's basically half the front-running teams from the first few years I was watching - the others being Ferrari, Williams and McLaren.

And other teams that were around in the 80s and 90s that fell away or were taken over and rebranded include Ligier, Tyrrell, Arrows, Minardi, ATS, Alfa Romeo, March, Osella, Dallara, Zakspeed, Coloni, Larrousse, Jordan, Stewart (and then Jaguar), Toleman (and Benetton).

Edited by PlatenGlass, 08 December 2015 - 17:57.

[maximilian]

Ensign

 

Oh and Walter (Toto) Wo(o)lf Racing.  With Susie.

Ooooh, I forgot about Walter Wolf.  The bloke is still alive, too.  Would be swell!!

[DinocoBlue]

Are we going to hear more 'interested parties' now that the independent engine is being pushed?  Hype up it's need/viability?

I hope it would be more than just speculation. Not specifically in Theodore's case - as I stated in the OP its a vague quote anyway. I know what you're saying though, there's been many an "interested party" that wants to enter only to fizzle out quickly (just the same as potential hosts for grand prix).

 

But if Theodore, Brabham or others are encouraged at the prospect of an independent engine and the '17 regs (combined with the route that Haas has took) then surely that's got to be a positive for the sport? OK so they're not going to win from the get-go, but let them get the foot in the door first, and who knows where they can go from there.

[pathogen]

Teddy Yep (Theodore) as a team ran with several cars in 70's... Ensing, March, Wolf or McLaren as a real private team. That could be in my humble opinion the real value of private teams in the current business model. Theodore can operate a RedBull, Mercedes or Wiliams car as a private team with young lions as a drivers. The problem is that today F1 is a very expensive vaudeville show for carmakers. 9 teams versus Mercedes on the grid is boring for me.

[Risil]

Shadow!

[Fastcake]

Historic names should only return if there is a real link with the original team. Theodore has enough of a link to return to motor racing, the David Brabham run team would be welcomed back, the original Fernandes plan to purchase both the historic Team Lotus name and the car company was acceptable to me, but anyone who is just picking up a historic name for their own profit should not be allowed to do so.

[Risil]

I would be fine if any ex-CIA international businessman decided to call his F1 team Shadow, regardless of its connections to the original outfit.

[BullHead]

Party pooping, but evaluating an entry is not really even considering an entry. Only someone with squillions to burn would toy with the idea these days

Edited by BullHead, 08 December 2015 - 19:50.

[GoldenColt]

Hesketh. 

 

[GhostR]

Eh, call me a party pooper but these old names don't do anything for me. In most situations, the name has nothing to do with the original team anymore.

Take the ridiculous Lotus situation of a couple of years ago. Two teams both pretending to be Lotus, when neither of them really had any meaningful connection to that legendary name. It's just a cynical branding exercise.

I'd rather new teams come in and make their own identity, rather than pretending to be someone they're not. For that reason, I'm not sad to see Lotus become Renault, seeing as it wasn't the real, original Lotus in the first place.

If a team comes back and legitimately has a connection to the old name they're using, great. If it's just a name they're using for marketing purposes, sod off and stop dragging that name through the mud.

Somewhat ironic that you say this in a thread sparked off by reports of a possible return for a name that does have links to the original team.

But point well taken. I was much happier when Fernandes switched to Caterham. Also a branding exercise, but at least he bought the car company to go with it. Shame he then flushed it all.

Edit: gawd, autocorrection of Fernandes to Fernando could have created a bit of hilarity. Fixed now.

Edited by GhostR, 08 December 2015 - 21:04.

[DampMongoose]

Hexagon complete with 'racing brown' livery.

[Mohican]

Why stop at the 70's ? Can we have BRM, Vanwall, Maserati and Auto Union back, please ?
Looking at the 70's, I would go for UOP Shadow and Beta March.

[Amphicar]

Connew

 

[loki]

USF1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

[JHSingo]

Somewhat ironic that you say this in a thread sparked off by reports of a possible return for a name that does have links to the original team.
 

 

Yeah, I know. It was more in response to "what other names would you like to see back" part of the OP.

 

Most the names that have been mentioned so far in this thread are teams that are long gone. As I say, I'm not really a fan of the whole "bring an old name back to make the team look better" concept.

[SB]

USF1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

The team never died ..... the toast is still sitting well inside my kitchen  

[ElJefe]

A French outfit, just for the sake of diversity. I used to be quite fond of Ligier...

[Fatgadget]

It's a shame that cost are so high in F1. I liked the 80s and 90s with all that small racing teams. If costs would be cutting down I think we could see a lot of names like Theodore and Brabham back in F1, but without that it's very unlikely. Perhaps as title sponsor but that's all.

Yeah but wasn't the financial bar raised by the powers that be to prevent not very serious players entering F1? ...Commiting yourself for X number of years;lodging a kings ransom sized deposit etc?

[DinocoBlue]

Yeah, I know. It was more in response to "what other names would you like to see back" part of the OP.

 

Most the names that have been mentioned so far in this thread are teams that are long gone. As I say, I'm not really a fan of the whole "bring an old name back to make the team look better" concept.

I can see where you're coming from. Perhaps I should have worded it a bit differently. Rather than returning names, what about "names that should still be on the grid" ?

 

No doubt a lot of the names mentioned would still be mentioned though.

 

 

[Disgrace]

My Little Pony can enter a team for all I care. Anyone who turns up with a livery free from grey, dark blue or red is more than welcome in my eyes.

[BRG]

My Little Pony can enter a team for all I care. 

 

Yes!  With Danica and Susie.....

[statman]

It's a shame that cost are so high in F1. I liked the 80s and 90s with all that small racing teams. If costs would be cutting down I think we could see a lot of names like Theodore and Brabham  back in F1, but without that it's very unlikely. Perhaps as title sponsor but that's all.

I love that era, so many exotic teams and engines

 

1990: Brabham-Judd (V8 Judd), Lotus-Lamborghini (V12 Lambo), Coloni-Subaru (F12 Subaru) Life-Life (W12 Life) plus all the Cosworths, Ford's, Ferrari's, Honda's

[Wes350]

One of the reasons I hope HAAS is fairly successful is so that the model he is using can be duplicated by others and grow the grid a little.

[TumppiF1]

AAW-racing with Bottas and Raikkonen, naturally.

 

Some sponsors are either non-usable or bankrupt, but is AAW, ie. WIHURI is still /back in the F1 circles, and High Chaparral is still open.

 

[LuckyStrike1]

Minardi and BAR. 

 

Because the latter was amusing. 

[FullThrottleF1]

Super Aguri. End of.

[automovelbrilhante]

Shadow and Arrows.

And bring back some dead drivers as well. Somebody from the family tree, like, six degrees of separation.

And when are we going to get a Bernard Ecclestone clone to carry on with the whole thing? No need, Bernie's a living dead on autopilot and so is F1. 

Edith:

Edited by automovelbrilhante, 11 December 2015 - 11:10.

[ardbeg]

Connew

 

 

 

Yes! They deserve a second chance!

[DinocoBlue]

Super Aguri. End of.

 

 

I love the fact that Super Aguri as well as Minardi are proving so popular in the thread. Especially as the former only managed three seasons.

[Volcano70]

STR Minardi F1 powered by Ferrari.

Also, I'd like to see Toyota back in F1, I liked the team.

[ensign14]

<-

[DinocoBlue]

Looks like this story is moving again...

 

 

 

F3 team Prema eyeing F1 entry

The next new team for F1 could now be on the horizon, according to Germany’s Auto Bild Motorsport.

The publication suggested that Prema Powerteam, a lower-category Italian outfit that fields Lance Stroll in F3 and Mick Schumacher in Formula 4, could be first in line to emulate the successful new ‘Haas’-like model.

 

..

Prema has linked up with Theodore Racing, an F1 team of the 70s and 80s. Then, Theodore was run by Hong Kong millionaire Teddy Yip, and now it is headed by his son, Teddy Yip jr.

Theodore has also entered Indycar this year with the Rahal Letterman Lanigan team.

 

 

http://www.thisisf1....yeing-f1-entry/