Team GBR - Page 4

ford prefect · 17 Mar 2009, 18:47 (Ref:2417639)

Well, THAT'S a reliable source then! I'll be believing the "some guy down the pub told my mate" news everytime.

Sid The Manager · 17 Mar 2009, 19:17 (Ref:2417655)

we'll see
I have other contacts confirming it, but I can't name them

littleman · 17 Mar 2009, 20:45 (Ref:2417743)

I hope you're wrong Sid but must admit it wouldn't come as any surprise.For the record, Danny Watts doesn't bring a penny to the team. He drives for absolutely nothing because he just loves to race and get's a patriotic buzz from representing his Country.Good on him I say!

Mak · 17 Mar 2009, 20:57 (Ref:2417748)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmy Magnusson

Since when has Danny Watts been able to bring any great sums of money to a ride?

No one said Danny was paying!

Think there may be several teams not involved next year if they cannot find funding. Also would imagine several well funded teams having second thoughts after this years problems. I really hope that A1 can turn things around as it is a great concept and should have been capable of being finacially viable if run properly. It will be an uphill struggle.

Kiwi3 · 18 Mar 2009, 03:02 (Ref:2417965)

Pessimism again.

It would not surprise me if suppliers were chasing the team for money as it is not self funding and is backed up by A1GP no? There are constant rumours of suppliers chasing A1GP and the series about to implode, to the extent that the rumours are fashionable. However each time crisis is averted, and schedule reductions aside it pulls through. I honestly believe it's just a case of Tony Teixeira stretching cashflow as much as he can without it falling over, which is what many businesses in many fields are doing. However on the big stuff (Ferrari, new Algarve facility) he is plowing on ahead and I believe has the resources to continue doing so.

Perhaps any problems with suppliers chasing team GBR will disappear the night before the Brands Hatch round just as many other things seem to get solved at the last minute?

Sid The Manager · 18 Mar 2009, 07:17 (Ref:2418020)

Well I'd rather be wrong and see GBR out there

Mystery · 18 Mar 2009, 12:22 (Ref:2418211)

Personally I take SidTM's comments fairly seriously, as I have a vague recollection of contacts within A1GBR itself from season 1?? Maybe?? No need to confirm on deny but just my recollection and my rationale for being quite worried.

**bella** · 18 Mar 2009, 13:47 (Ref:2418264)

realistically, you have to say that a business that was struggling in favourable economic times (ie 18 months ago) has little chance of making it past the next few months. so regarding sid's information, i remain cautiously optimistic that they'll find some backing but realistic about the state of the world.

Kiwi3 · 19 Mar 2009, 02:53 (Ref:2418878)

I don't doubt Sid's info either. Actually I'd be surprised if suppliers were not chasing them. I just can't see Brands going ahead without a GBR entry, so suspect A1GP will prop it up, at the last minute if necessary, and maybe not before more rumours and speculation.

Perhaps a total re-evaluation of the GBR franchise might be necessary before next season however.

Mak · 19 Mar 2009, 05:18 (Ref:2418916)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiwi3

I don't doubt Sid's info either. Actually I'd be surprised if suppliers were not chasing them. I just can't see Brands going ahead without a GBR entry, so suspect A1GP will prop it up, at the last minute if necessary, and maybe not before more rumours and speculation.

Perhaps a total re-evaluation of the GBR franchise might be necessary before next season however.

I think there is a lot of propping up going on, and not the least, the propping up A1 it self, by those few teams who are finacially independant and there seat holders! I don't think that they are happy about it either!

Andrew Volcker · 19 Mar 2009, 10:35 (Ref:2419136)

I think there have definitely been some issues surrounding the team but that's just motorsport at the moment. I do think there will need to be some serious problems addressed for the series to survive for next season though, and I hope they do because as Massa said, 'It's a great format'! Regards to GBR's apparent financial position, I think this is all just speculation. I'm sure all the teams have re-evaluated their current financial position and no-doubt stretched their payments and cash-flow, but this doesn't mean they're about to fall over. The rumors I've heard are they've already got some great sponsors lined up for 2009/10.

Kiwi3 · 19 Mar 2009, 15:47 (Ref:2419400)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew Volcker

The rumors I've heard are they've already got some great sponsors lined up for 2009/10.

Hope so. You mean A1GP generally or team GBR or other teams?

spider · 20 Mar 2009, 09:41 (Ref:2420062)

The PR surrounding the team just isn't strong enough to generate interest on anything like a decent scale, on these shores. When A1 was launched, nigh-on everyone i know had heard of the series, the turn-out at the first event was astonishing, for a new series. The message of 'all the cars are the same' worked a treat, but now...well, hardly anyone remembers the series.

The likes of Ant Davidson should be in the car. I mean, surely that's got to be a better option for him, than sitting at home doing nowt all season?! He'd at least bring a bit of pedigree to the mix, and with his wife Carrie's PR expertise, surely they could build the team around him and raise his, and the teams profile a bit!? Danny Watts really isn't the answer, regardless of how quick he may be...Robbie Kerr certainly wasn't either, but at least he became symbolic of the A1 team.

They need to attract someone who's either got LOADS of money, is blindingly quick, or has a huge personality. I don't see that any of the current drivers really tick those boxes...

andy97 · 20 Mar 2009, 09:58 (Ref:2420073)

Jonathan Palmer should take over the team, at least he knows how to market things. Put the winner of the FPA series into the seat (or the Autosport Yound Driver of the year award) & make it a step on the career progression ladder? JP is probably busy with F2, though!

spider · 20 Mar 2009, 10:33 (Ref:2420093)

Andy, that would be ideal, though i'm sure he's a tad tied-up. Not a big JP fan, on a personal level, but on a professional one he's defo a sharp cookie. That would raise interest in the series too. At the moment, going from one fill-in to another isn't giving the team any chance of building its image in the UK.

I was a big fan of A1 in seasons 1-3, but my own interest is waning. It's been a farcical season.

Interested to hear what the new cars sound like up-close...rubbish, i'm guessing.

**Asp** · 20 Mar 2009, 12:43 (Ref:2420186)

Quote:

Originally Posted by spider

The likes of Ant Davidson should be in the car. I mean, surely that's got to be a better option for him, than sitting at home doing nowt all season?!

Except, of course, he'll be sat in the 5Live commentary box at Grand Prix all season

I see your point though, the difficulty is finding anyone who meets all the criteria. Die-hard fans know the background to Danny Watts, Robbie Kerr - so the name is of little significance to them. Names that everyone will know are extremely limitied - I can't see Nigel Mansell returning to racing anytime soon either!

There did seem to be a lot more publicity in previous years though - see the Manchester demonstration runs. Stuff like that really did build the profile, probably more so than a 'big' name, but I suppose it's costly (vicious circle)...

RichardRenes · 20 Mar 2009, 19:41 (Ref:2420440)

Having a big name did help here in Holland though

strider · 20 Mar 2009, 23:15 (Ref:2420605)

The things you learn from Twitter... Someone, who had better remain nameless, wrote: "about to check an A1GP GBR pitch...", so don't give up hope yet.

RichardRenes · 21 Mar 2009, 10:31 (Ref:2420825)

oh fill us in please

Sid The Manager · 26 Mar 2009, 14:23 (Ref:2425297)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ford prefect

Well, THAT'S a reliable source then! I'll be believing the "some guy down the pub told my mate" news everytime.

http://www.accountancyage.com/accoun...-british-motor

Kebab · 26 Mar 2009, 15:01 (Ref:2425326)

Just a few days after Katie Clements was saying in the press that GBR would be Ok, the company is in administration?!!?

Kiwi3 · 26 Mar 2009, 15:02 (Ref:2425327)

Well I guess the search for a new seatholder just got all the more urgent!

It seems A1GP are not entirely propping up particular franchise holders, although as Brands is coming up presume they will need to prop up the GBR entry.

kerrmanningjarv · 26 Mar 2009, 21:42 (Ref:2425575)

Well hopefully we can get some better people on-board for season 5 and beyond... the commercial side of the GBR team has always worried me and sponsors are thin on the ground every year. No wonder we have a cash-flow problem!

Especially in a recession.

strider · 26 Mar 2009, 22:28 (Ref:2425611)

The way I understood it, Tony Clements was the original seat-holder (stupid expression) together John Surtees. Then Surtees withdrew and TC ran the show for a while before handing over the reins to his daughter, Katie, presumably to see if she could make a go of it. The answer seems to be no, although I don't blame anyone for not succeeding in the present economic climate.

It's just a very great shame.

Kiwi3 · 27 Mar 2009, 03:28 (Ref:2425819)

I guess it would/will be difficult for anyone to find sponsors unless it's televised free to air.

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