F1 Rumour of the Week

[jager]

Ferrari Fan - perhaps the domination of the red cars from Maranello is about to come to an end !

Quote :

"The Arrows Formula One team, which has been struggling to secure its future, looks set to be purchased by Audi.

Sources have confirmed that a deal could be signed very soon and that the remaining staff at the Leafield-based outfit have been told that an agreement is very close to being secured.

Audi has competed in sportscars recently, winning the Le Mans 24 Hours three years on the trot. However, with news that they will not be entering a works Audi team at Le Mans in 2003, a move to F1 seems highly likely.

The Arrows deal would thus make sense to Audi, in terms of continuing to develop the brand, and where better to do this than in Formula One.

Arrows had a dismal 2002, with financial problems first becoming public prior to the British Grand Prix in July. They last raced at the German Grand Prix on July 28th.

Tom Walkinshaw's outfit missed six races in total this season - although it did 'attempt' to qualify in France, albeit although without much effort - and the outfit also appeared in Belgium, albeit for only the first day before returning to base after advice from its lawyers.

Since September 10th, when the team escaped a winding up petition in a High Court in Leeds, there have been no official statements regarding the current state of affairs.

As of yesterday, a spokesperson for the outfit refused to comment."

[Aussiecollector]

Arrows saved?
By German Grand Prix Racing [12/11/02 - 01:30]

Reports in the German press indicate that the Arrows Formula One team have been saved from what looked to be sure extinction after a sale to ‘German Grand Prix Racing'. According the DPA newsagency, the sale actually went through on the 31st of October, however the final transaction took a little longer to complete than anticipated.

The new organization has now secured the majority stake in the team, however it is said that Tom Walkinshaw will remain at the helm. If the reports turn out to be true, and there is every reason to believe they will, the team will be able to officialise their entry into the 2003 season by the November 15 deadline after all.

Now that the financial side of the situation has been sorted, there still remains a lot of other important items on the agenda that will need immediate attention. With testing for the new season due to get underway in two weeks time, the Leafield based squad will need to sort out one major issue, that of an engine! There are not many opportunities left in that department with Ford supplying Jaguar, Jordan and more than likely Minardi and after their problems from last season, it is highly doubtful that a new contract could be negotiated.

Ferrari still has one customer supply left after the demise of Prost earlier this year, but the price tag won't be small. Honda, while they have decided to concentrate solely on BAR, may be interested in supplying their 2002 power plants on a customer basis, however this is highly unlikely. There have been reports that Audi are interested, but there has been no real strength to the suggestions. Asiatech have closed their doors, so the free option is no longer available, leaving very limited realistic options.

Staffing problems will also need to be addressed after most walked away from the situation due to non payment of wages and driver line- up is yet another issue. Whilst the least of their current problems, it will still need to be addressed in the coming months. Enrique Bernoldi will more than likely stay, the Brazilian remaining loyal to the team through all their problems, but who will partner him?

There are several drivers currently out of a job and looking for a future ride….
Eddie Irvine: - Reports link him to Jordan, with the move almost a done deal
Pedro de la Rosa: - Possible, but highly unlikely after his abrupt dismissal in 2001
Jos Verstappen: - Possible, but highly unlikely after his abrupt dismissal in 2002
Felipe Massa: - Reports link him to Ferrari as a second test driver
Takuma Sato: - IF Eddie Irvine takes his drive at Jordan there may be a possibility
Allan McNish: - Possible, even though he is looking at CART and the IRL
Mika Salo: - Possible, but unlikely
Alex Yoong: - Possible, and Malaysian sponsorship would be a bonus for the team after losing Orange, but he is also looking at a move to the CART series.

This leaves new blood, that could bring with it new sponsorship and new hope.

Looks good for Arrows in 2003 at this stage, ONCE they find an engine.

Glenn

[ferrari fan]

The highly succesfull AudiR8 is going to be rebadged as a BENTLY, I was told this by a high ranking FIA official here in Perth at Rally Australia and he also seemed to hint at an Audi F1 involvement.
Due to familylinks in the past with Auto Union and Porsche we are very happy indeed if this was the case other that for Tommo .
he should stick to his Sydneytaxi involvement and stand side by side to his nemises T.Cockroche.They must come from the same batch!:confused:

[SWRT]

Bently want to hide the fact that thier LMP Le mans cars are Just Audi R8's with a Bently body on them.
My Le mans 2003 predicted result-
1st-Bently #8
2nd-Bently #7
3rd-mat be a third Bently or David Brabhams Panoz

[brchi17]

SWRT,
I'm not sure Panos is still racing, to come 3rd at LeMans.

A little while ago, both Jan & David were realeased from their contracts, the LM Panoz was withdrawn from competition & Mr Panoz went sookey lala all the way home to the USA.

What I can't remember was whether he was going back to the drawing board to develop a new (competitive) car or simply walking away from racing & concentrating on the road car division of Panoz.

cheers.