Rob Benson quits FPR

FPRXR-6 · 17 Jan 2006, 15:41 (Ref:1503155)

In AA it says that Rob Benson has quit FPR for a job in NASCAR as the head of research and development for Dale Earnhardt Incorporated.
Benson will leave FPR on Feb 10.

Aarrgh8 · 17 Jan 2006, 19:28 (Ref:1503315)

Get out of town!

I bet no-one here saw that coming.

stmorri · 18 Jan 2006, 03:29 (Ref:1503514)

I guess he simply isn't required at FPR now that they will be using SBR engines.

RotorFan · 18 Jan 2006, 03:38 (Ref:1503516)

FPR are going to use SBR engines? Isn't that pretty weak? It'd be like HRT using GRM engines...

bondy_racing · 18 Jan 2006, 03:50 (Ref:1503522)

Quote:

Originally Posted by stmorri

I guess he simply isn't required at FPR now that they will be using SBR engines.

The first time ive heard that.

KE30MAN · 18 Jan 2006, 05:40 (Ref:1503537)

The Benson engines looked OK at Phillip Island. If they have finally gotten them to make some sniff and are going to SBR engines, what a complete waste of time and money.

Not to mentions the new dynos...

spectator22 · 18 Jan 2006, 07:29 (Ref:1503571)

FPR wont be using SBR engines. Benson has 'set them up' for this season and the remaining staff will fill the breach. As Bright says in MN interview this week, FPRs speed at the last 2 races of 05 was pretty good, hes expecting big things in 06. He also queries the continued grouping of FPR with Britek, which means Britek cant test. He has a point as HRT and HSV dont appear to be grouped?????

stmorri · 18 Jan 2006, 08:57 (Ref:1503602)

Quote:

Originally Posted by spectator22

FPR wont be using SBR engines. Benson has 'set them up' for this season and the remaining staff will fill the breach. As Bright says in MN interview this week, FPRs speed at the last 2 races of 05 was pretty good, hes expecting big things in 06. He also queries the continued grouping of FPR with Britek, which means Britek cant test. He has a point as HRT and HSV dont appear to be grouped?????

OK I'll stand corrected, but I thought I read somewhere last year that FPR would be jumping on the bandwagon along with team BOC to use SBR powerplants.

kmsport · 18 Jan 2006, 10:01 (Ref:1503629)

I cannot see how Benson engine gains would benifit Brighty if he was driving for BRITEK

Just Do It! · 18 Jan 2006, 10:10 (Ref:1503636)

Quote:

Originally Posted by stmorri

.....with team BOC to use SBR powerplants.

Yes. A silly deal really. Cost SBR the Pirtek support. Makes you wonder what who was thinking when whoever it was put together and got SBR to agree to this.

Rombles1 · 18 Jan 2006, 10:49 (Ref:1503656)

I wondered if this could be the catalyst for Brighty to get out of FPR and head over to his own team a year early?

dirttrack · 18 Jan 2006, 10:55 (Ref:1503663)

Just Do It that is total crap BJR engine deal did not cost SBR the Pirtek deal. Pirtek were going or gone long before that deal was announced. Merely a parting shot at one of their competitors.

Conrod Kieron · 18 Jan 2006, 11:56 (Ref:1503702)

Quote:

Originally Posted by RotorFan

FPR are going to use SBR engines? Isn't that pretty weak? It'd be like HRT using GRM engines...

I'd hardly call GRM donks the best in the business.

HRT using Perkins would be more on the money

Razor · 18 Jan 2006, 12:00 (Ref:1503710)

Robbie Benson, he was with the WRC before moving to PWR then back to Prodrive?

SRabbit · 18 Jan 2006, 20:55 (Ref:1504003)

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirttrack

Just Do It that is total crap BJR engine deal did not cost SBR the Pirtek deal. Pirtek were going or gone long before that deal was announced. Merely a parting shot at one of their competitors.

that was my view as well.

isn't marcos taking some pirtek money with him to the US?

RotorFan · 18 Jan 2006, 21:54 (Ref:1504044)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conrod Kieron

I'd hardly call GRM donks the best in the business.

HRT using Perkins would be more on the money

Was just making a point

KE30MAN · 18 Jan 2006, 21:59 (Ref:1504049)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Barton

Robbie Benson, he was with the WRC before moving to PWR then back to Prodrive?

No. He was with HRT, then went to Nascar, then back to Australia with BJR and then FPR and now he is heading back to the states.

Beatcha · 19 Jan 2006, 05:58 (Ref:1504198)

Have heard that another Aussie Engine builder is heading back over too. Cant confirm who but they said he used to work at that shop and was with HRT in the early days with benson? Any ideas?

**GTRMagic** · 19 Jan 2006, 09:25 (Ref:1504256)

Quote:

Originally Posted by stmorri

I guess he simply isn't required at FPR now that they will be using SBR engines.

This was well discussed in here about 6 months ago, and was part of the Ford plan... not sure how it stopped bing part of the plan... looks a silly move not to have done it considering Mr Benson is gone,....

stmorri · 19 Jan 2006, 09:31 (Ref:1504263)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

This was well discussed in here about 6 months ago, and was part of the Ford plan... not sure how it stopped bing part of the plan... looks a silly move not to have done it considering Mr Benson is gone,....

Thanks GTR. I knew it was on this forum and I was surprised that others that post regularly hadn't heard it, but I wasn't aware that the plan had been overturned.

anthony81901 · 19 Jan 2006, 09:38 (Ref:1504271)

Am I correct in thinking Benson is a Brit by birth? I think he was a TWR employee in the UK and came out with Win Percy to set up HRT in 1990, where he built the engines until 1994.

In 1995 he set up RED Engines and built Chevys for Wayne Gardner Racing and Audis for Brad Jones Racing. Then he went overseas and returned to Australia in 2005 as team manager for BJR, before going to FPR mid season.

naughtymutt · 19 Jan 2006, 09:42 (Ref:1504272)

didnt he use to screw BJR auscar/nascar engines together before 1995

Rombles1 · 19 Jan 2006, 11:17 (Ref:1504347)

well someone has been screwing FPR engines since.....

Grimace · 21 Jan 2006, 11:41 (Ref:1505883)

The question is now Benson ,who finally built powerful and fast engines for FPR has gone,..who can replace him???????????????????

Is it back to slow hand grenades after present stock of Benson Builts run out?

they cant be yet another customer for SBR engines!

so who is the lucky

FPR 2006>engine builder???(as good as Benson)

stmorri · 22 Jan 2006, 02:45 (Ref:1506433)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grimace

The question is now Benson ,who finally built powerful and fast engines for FPR has gone,..who can replace him???????????????????

Is it back to slow hand grenades after present stock of Benson Builts run out?

they cant be yet another customer for SBR engines!

so who is the lucky

FPR 2006>engine builder???(as good as Benson)

It may not seem like it, but it is probably a sound move on Fords' part not to have only 1 decent engine builder (presuming that FPR through Benson have finally got their act together) after all it is SBR and not Ford that own the intellectual property of their engines and if that should be lost for whatever reason Ford need to have an alternative. I could be wrong but that is how I see it.

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