mustang1966
05-11-2002, 06:38 PM
Just found this piece of the Holden motorsport web site
Holden goes Formula One!?
AP-Reuters/Australia/October 28/ MelbAus: GM TO JOIN THE F1 GRID?
Formula One backmarkers Minardi are strongly rumoured to be about to announce a shock deal to use Australian made though Chevrolet badged V10 engines as their powerplants for the 2003 season.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a highly placed source has confirmed that a deal was finalised several weeks ago and that Minardi team principal Paul Stoddart, along with several Minardi officials and lead driver Mark Webber, made a clandestine visit to the Melbourne headquarters of General Motor's Australian division Holden three weeks ago, shortly after the final Grand Prix of the season in Japan.
General Motors is understood to have handed the task to the Australian subsidiary operation due to it's proven ability to produce winning products on a limited budget. GM Chairman Bob Lutz has made several trips to Australia and is known to admire the Australian division.
Lutz recently gave the go ahead for full scale importation of the Australian-made Holden Monaro coupe into the US market, rebadged as a Pontiac GTO. Lutz was also said to have been a guest of Stoddart and his Minardi team at the recent United States Grand Prix in Indianapolis.
The source further stated that with the urgency of the situation Holden already has a Formula One specification V10 engine under fast track development at Holden's engine works just outside of Melbourne.
Holden has apparently also been delivered a current Minardi chassis to assist their efforts, and the engine is shortly to be installed prior to initial testing at Holden's Lang Lang proving grounds.
Several leading chassis and powertrain engineers from the American headquarters have been relocated to Australia to assist on the project.
The reasons for General Motor's sudden shock foray into the high cost world of Formula One is less clear. They are shortly to launch several new models into European markets, although these products are not currently planned to be badged Chevrolets in Europe.
The profile of Formula One in the United States is however growing and there is some evidence that the head of Formula One, Bernie Ecclestone, could be behind the move to draw the giant GM group into the sport.
Webber's presence on the trip remains a curiousity. He was recently released from his contract by Stoddart and is free to sign with any rival team. Stoddart, who has expressed great admiration for Webber, may be whetting the star driver's appetite for a return to the small team
Good for a laugh anyways.
Holden goes Formula One!?
AP-Reuters/Australia/October 28/ MelbAus: GM TO JOIN THE F1 GRID?
Formula One backmarkers Minardi are strongly rumoured to be about to announce a shock deal to use Australian made though Chevrolet badged V10 engines as their powerplants for the 2003 season.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a highly placed source has confirmed that a deal was finalised several weeks ago and that Minardi team principal Paul Stoddart, along with several Minardi officials and lead driver Mark Webber, made a clandestine visit to the Melbourne headquarters of General Motor's Australian division Holden three weeks ago, shortly after the final Grand Prix of the season in Japan.
General Motors is understood to have handed the task to the Australian subsidiary operation due to it's proven ability to produce winning products on a limited budget. GM Chairman Bob Lutz has made several trips to Australia and is known to admire the Australian division.
Lutz recently gave the go ahead for full scale importation of the Australian-made Holden Monaro coupe into the US market, rebadged as a Pontiac GTO. Lutz was also said to have been a guest of Stoddart and his Minardi team at the recent United States Grand Prix in Indianapolis.
The source further stated that with the urgency of the situation Holden already has a Formula One specification V10 engine under fast track development at Holden's engine works just outside of Melbourne.
Holden has apparently also been delivered a current Minardi chassis to assist their efforts, and the engine is shortly to be installed prior to initial testing at Holden's Lang Lang proving grounds.
Several leading chassis and powertrain engineers from the American headquarters have been relocated to Australia to assist on the project.
The reasons for General Motor's sudden shock foray into the high cost world of Formula One is less clear. They are shortly to launch several new models into European markets, although these products are not currently planned to be badged Chevrolets in Europe.
The profile of Formula One in the United States is however growing and there is some evidence that the head of Formula One, Bernie Ecclestone, could be behind the move to draw the giant GM group into the sport.
Webber's presence on the trip remains a curiousity. He was recently released from his contract by Stoddart and is free to sign with any rival team. Stoddart, who has expressed great admiration for Webber, may be whetting the star driver's appetite for a return to the small team
Good for a laugh anyways.