22 replies to this topic

[LeDiableRouge]

http://www.itv-f1.co...news_story/9474

VW chairman Bernd Pischetsrieder is a known fan of the sport and was the man behind BMW’s Formula 1 entry when he was chairman of that company. Pischetsreider is quoted in The Observer as saying: "Everyone knows that I have always been an F1 fan and I would love to own a team there one day." The article also claims that the VW boss refused to deny that VW were behind the Prost bid.

Hmmm, very interesting development indeed if it is true.

[No27]

First run it under the Skoda name, nobody expects Skoda to win. And when succes comes in, change name for Audi, Bugatti or Volkswagen.

Anyway, I believe its true. Private people or investment groups have nothing to do in Formula 1 because the knowledge and experience you need to succeed is far too expensive.

[Ross Stonefeld]

If I were VW I wouldnt go this route. Id go to Ford and buy Jag at garage sale prices, and move most of the Audi Sport (global) people over there. Audi Sport UK has a pretty good facility in East Anglia where they developed the R8c and Bentley Le Mans cars. Maybe buy some engine designs from Cosworth, unless Cossie continues to supply some other team. I have a feeling Dr Ulrich, Reinhold Joest (if interested) could run a team out of Milton Keynes a lot better than Jag could. Just look how much better Stewart were, and imagine them blended with the Audi Le Mans team.

[LeDiableRouge]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld
If I were VW I wouldnt go this route. Id go to Ford and buy Jag at garage sale prices, and move most of the Audi Sport (global) people over there. Audi Sport UK has a pretty good facility in East Anglia where they developed the R8c and Bentley Le Mans cars. Maybe buy some engine designs from Cosworth, unless Cossie continues to supply some other team. I have a feeling Dr Ulrich, Reinhold Joest (if interested) could run a team out of Milton Keynes a lot better than Jag could. Just look how much better Stewart were, and imagine them blended with the Audi Le Mans team.

I would think that VW would want to introduce their own engine in due time.

Ford/Cosworth providing engines for VW? Highly unlikely!

[Megatron]

I really wish that they would enter under the VW or perhaps Audi name, not Skoda, or Bugatti, Lambo, or any other line.

[metz]

I had read that VW was in the hunt for Prost in the early days but gave way to the Prince.
After the bankrupcy, buying the assets and stiffing the creditors and partners, is not in VWs interst.

[Ross Stonefeld]

Well no, not Ford/Cossie building the engines, but maybe it would be possible for Audi to get a peek at their design to get some ideas. Though im sure they could do it themselves just fine. Id expect Audi/VW to be like a Toyota. Bring in a team from another form of racing thats very accomplished, and not dick around with the budget. Im leaning towards Audi coming back because of Auto Union's history in the sport. I would dare say Auto Union/Audi's motorsport history is as rich as Ferrari, they just dont get the same kind of PR ;)

[Papaya Man]

SKODA entering F1.



This is a very bad joke


can you imagine this?.......Skoda and Ferrari fighting it out for the lead?

i hope FIA start implenting this rule which would control the name of the F1 team. Not any TOM DICK AND HARRY are supposed to be in or allowed to be in F1. Otherwise, the image of F1 is going to drop down to Touring Cars level.

Part of F1 that captures the imagination of the fans is the pedigree and history of the teams. Next are we going to hear that KIA and HYUNDAI are entering F1???????

[TheDestroyer]

SKODA/Audi/VW this is actually an old rumor (well the Skoda aspect is new) that has been kicked around for at least a year now...

i wouldn't mind seeing VW get into F1 but till it happens I won't be holding my breath.

[Ross Stonefeld]

Is a Ford really better than a Skoda Kia or Hyundai? What the hell is an Asiatech? I m not really concerned by which name a mfg chooses to use

[Papaya Man]

Ford is miles better than Skoda and the Koreans.
Ford's history and pedigree dates back many many decades. Ford name is always associated with many forms of top level motorsports.

and Ford has that famous Cosworth.


But, i agree the name Asiatech is **** and sucks. Asiatech shouldn't be there.

[Liam]

They bulild it, they are entitled to call it what they want.
Ferrari was just Enzo as a privateer Alfa Romeo team, Lotus is just as made up name.

Pinserwhatshisname is leaving the top job at VW isn't he? VW seemed very sure they were NOT entering F1. Skoda is a part of VW, and runs a rally team anyway, so it would be a Skoda badge on VW's entry if it happened. VW are much more likely to use Seat, the sporty part of VW as the badge.
I can't see VW in F1 for a good few years.

[Pioneer]

I wouldn't call what the Jags are doing "top level motorsports".

My Hyaundai would be faster... on old tires... backwards... in the rain.

[cv2000]

They'll never make it onto the grid under any name.

[cv2000]

Originally posted by cv2000
They'll never make it onto the grid under any name.

Not for 2002 that is.

[aportinga]

Kia or Hyundai

Actually 1 of these manufactures DOES intend to get into the sport - the latter one I believe. Anyhow I wouldn't say Honda is anything great either...infact I'd say that they are not only an embarassment to themselves but also becoming one to F1.

As far as Audi are concerned...lets face it either Jordan or BAR are going to be dumped by Honda after Toyota is through with them. IMO Audi would rather pick up the pieces of one of these 2 teams rather then deal with the paperwork and legalities of buying what essentially amounts to a French IRL team which got lost and wound up in F1.

Ford... This is the end of Niki and Jags IMO. In fact I'd put money down that by Canada the team will get a severe shake down which will see Niki and possibly even IE booted - after EI refuses to take a pay cut. Who steps in? Who knows...perhaps Stewat? Hey maybe if CART has another year like last year - Rahal or even Chip Ganassi may step in. But does it really matter??? Jags like Honda IMO are just crap anyhow.

Thank god we have Renault, Toyota and Sauber!

[LeDiableRouge]

Originally posted by Papaya Man
Ford is miles better than Skoda and the Koreans.
Ford's history and pedigree dates back many many decades. Ford name is always associated with many forms of top level motorsports.

and Ford has that famous Cosworth.

But, i agree the name Asiatech is **** and sucks. Asiatech shouldn't be there.

Ford is American and Cosworth is English, yes?

Never driven a Skoda but drove a Seat once. Not a bad car and both owned by VW. Would not touch a Ford. Give me a Lexus anyday.

Mercedes V10s are built by Ilmor.

What's in a name unless it is Ferrari?

By they way, who owns Lamborghini (VW ;))? Now, that is a name I wouldn't mind seeing in F1.

[pc13]

If and when VW joins F1, it won't be throught Seat and Skoda because they don't have international name recognition, i.e. outside of Europe (and possibly South America). VW, Audi, Bugatti, Bentley or Lamborghini are the possibilities in marketing terms.

For me, I'd say go with Bugatti. There's a very big likelihood it would be Audi, because of their Le Mans success, but Bugatti has a name recognition in Grand Prix Racing from the 1920's and 1930's, and, although Romano Artioli never managed to make with it, the EB110 was a prestigious car in the eyes of many low- and medium-level car enthusiasts (don't ask me to define that). It would also fit in a marketing strategy like this:

F1 - Bugatti
Sports - Audi
GT - Bentley
Trophy - Lamborghini
Touring - Seat
Rally - Skoda
ATV - VW

pc13

[jgoldrick]

assuming this story is correct also that honda is going to dump jordan, this in my belief is not good for the sport.A lot a people seem to believe that with manufacturers taking over from individuals who have in many cases invested their life and welfare into their passion a sport afterall will be a good thing.they argue it make it more competative,give real drivers a fair chance etc etc .A very flawd argument,as when ever any large corporation or board of directors broght any passion to any sport (FERRARI )accepted they are a special case.People like FW,EJ,PROST,STEWART THESE MEN ARE A NEVER TO BE REPLACED.All the talk is how long Ford are going to hang around,when BAT are going to cut their loses.In any sport you have to take the good with the bad,but this is hard to do if you dont have faith or PASSION in what your doing. to anyone who cares VW was offered to Jordan as far back as 1998. LETS KEEP THE PERSONALITIES IN THIS SPORT.

[Ross Stonefeld]

Bugatti wouldnt be cost effective I dont think. They'll go VW or Audi because thats their main line. Probably Audi because its the slightly more upscale brand. Audi USA sold something like 85,000 Audis last year at atleast 30k a pop.

[pc13]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld
Bugatti wouldnt be cost effective I dont think. They'll go VW or Audi because thats their main line. Probably Audi because its the slightly more upscale brand. Audi USA sold something like 85,000 Audis last year at atleast 30k a pop.

That depends how much money they could make from the F1 operation, including sponsorship deals and merchandising. Still, on this level, they'd be nowhere near Ferrari, of course. That also depends on their future model line-up. So far, only the Veyron is up for commercial release in 2003 or 2004, and it ain't gonna be cheap.

pc13

[Bogtrotter]

Yeah.. The BBC motorsport website had the story on Monday, then today, they have "printed" another story stating that Skoda aren't interested. Is it me, or is the silly season starting ealy this year?

[benrapp]

Pischetsrieder is chairman-elect of VAG, not motorsport chief. He is known for his enthusiasm for motorsport, but I'd be astonished if he chose this way, and these economic conditions, to bring any part of the VAG group into F1. If he were to, I can't imagine it would be Skoda, as they're half way through a WRC campaign. Audi are presently dominant in LMP900, with Bentley brand-engineering a version of the car with a roof to compete in the equivalent coupe class.

That leaves VW, SEAT, Lambourghini and Bugatti. The latter two are great names, but I can't see them having the sales potential to make an F1 entry worthwhile (and let's not pretend the F1 operation would make money: certainly not enough to justify it to VAG). So, VW or SEAT? Well SEAT is part of VAG's "sporty" brand group, but is supposed to be positioned as a cheap option, which doesn't ideally suit the F1 image. They'd be better off in DTM, where Audi are presently running the TT in addition to their Le Mans efforts.

Volkswagen means "People's Car". Again, not an ideal brand synergy, even if they've now released a Mercedes S-Class competitor (the Phaeton). I can't see it, somehow: the kind of people influenced by F1 don't buy Golfs, not even the GTi...

It would have to be Audi; I'll only believe that when they announce that they're dropping the R8 programme (in favour of Bentley), and maybe quitting DTM to leave that open for Seat or VW. There's good engineering experience and brand fit, and Audi could benefit from being an engine supplier, given the "engineering" focus of the brand.