David Richards speaks!
Discussion
F1racing.net said:
Prodrive founder David Richards has admitted he is taking things slowly in preparation for his team's F1 debut in 2008. Richards said the team's test programme won't commence until the end of 2007.
Speaking to Formula1.com Richards said: "Everybody wants to know the state of our new factory and the number of our staff. But I can tell you that we are taking a very slow process to this. If my strategy works, as I am confident it will, then we will partner one of the leading teams, and our test programme and our whole build-up will not really commence until the end of the 2007 season.
"Certain people have to be in place during the course of the year, but it will be a small build-up. My experience in the past of building organizations has taught me that there is a tendency to rush-off and employ people quickly and build things that you subsequently find unnecessary, and people you don't really need. I'm going be very frugal about that. That is probably unusual for Formula One, but that's going to be my policy because in the first years we will not need a large resource and we can accommodate that within our own facilities.
"We will build a factory, but it will be around our requirements. When engineers run racing teams, they tend to be very vertically integrated. They want every new piece of equipment, but when that piece of equipment is only working 30 days a year they seem to miss the point. I come from a business perspective, I'm running a business, and the business at the end of the day must work. It must be profitable and successful."
Speaking to Formula1.com Richards said: "Everybody wants to know the state of our new factory and the number of our staff. But I can tell you that we are taking a very slow process to this. If my strategy works, as I am confident it will, then we will partner one of the leading teams, and our test programme and our whole build-up will not really commence until the end of the 2007 season.
"Certain people have to be in place during the course of the year, but it will be a small build-up. My experience in the past of building organizations has taught me that there is a tendency to rush-off and employ people quickly and build things that you subsequently find unnecessary, and people you don't really need. I'm going be very frugal about that. That is probably unusual for Formula One, but that's going to be my policy because in the first years we will not need a large resource and we can accommodate that within our own facilities.
"We will build a factory, but it will be around our requirements. When engineers run racing teams, they tend to be very vertically integrated. They want every new piece of equipment, but when that piece of equipment is only working 30 days a year they seem to miss the point. I come from a business perspective, I'm running a business, and the business at the end of the day must work. It must be profitable and successful."
Could this be a hint that they will be run as a current teams second team? Mclaren maybe?
I could care less to be honest. Just another F1 team arriving making claims that they may or may not deliver in the magic 5 year timespan they all kick off with.
I'd rather see him sort out the total bloody mess he's made of the WRC before switching his attention to the similar (although more expensive) farce that is F1.
There's more comment and excitement in the political manouverings and pitlane plotting than there is on track at any given GP and the WRC is going the same way with team driver restrictions and SupeRally
I'd rather see him sort out the total bloody mess he's made of the WRC before switching his attention to the similar (although more expensive) farce that is F1.
There's more comment and excitement in the political manouverings and pitlane plotting than there is on track at any given GP and the WRC is going the same way with team driver restrictions and SupeRally
skinny said:
i'm not sure about that - the FIA didn't seem very keen on a maclaren B team - otherwise the direxiv team, whose plans for racing were much further advanced than prodrive, would have been given the nod instead.
Direxiv appear to have had financial problems that in the longer run (i.e. 2008) may well have prevented them from having the financial resources to run that B team. The refusal of the slot for 2008 (it went to Prodrive, remember) was said by some to be a convenient excuse for their withdrawal, not just from that deal but from all of their sponsorship commitments.
It's also said by some that Prodrive may have got the nod courtesy of DR's relationship with the FIA.
DR is a businessman, of that there is no doubt. McLaren Mercedes have the structure for a B team in place and do not currently supply engines to any other team. DR has faced opposition to his plans to develop his F1 facility. Imagine how easy it would be to appease his detractors if he were able to offer a compromise on that facility by making use of McLaren's old Woking factory?
He would be foolish not to review this option.
He also has the option of buying the IP (or indeed the whole concern) of Costworth too, at a time where R & D is to a certain extent capped....
And a little more, an expansion of the OP on this thread. Looks like he will be using the year old chassis rule.
itv-f1.com said:
Prodrive boss David Richards has revealed that he spoke to two manufacturers about the possibility of building a car from scratch for the company’s 2008 Formula 1 debut – but doesn’t have the “patience” to go down that route.
Richards’ outfit was selected as the 12th team to take part in the 2008 world championship by the FIA earlier this year and is expected to take advantage of new rules allowing teams to purchase fully customer cars.
Reports have linked the team to several Asian car manufacturers and although Richards confirms he has looked into the idea of building a completely new car, he concluded that this approach would take too long to succeed.
“We have looked into the option of building a team from scratch with new manufacturers – it’s probably indiscreet for me to say, but I have talked to two manufacturers about it, but ultimately we didn’t push it to the end state,” he said in an interview with Formula 1’s official website.
“If a manufacturer really wanted to spend that big amount of money, we could have done it, but for me personally, I actually don’t think I have the patience to do that.
“I want to do this for another three years, I want to establish the team properly, I want to see it get off the ground – and then I want to stand back.
“We have seen how long it took for Honda and Toyota and I am not a patient person. I’d rather have a short cut.”
Although Richards’ squad will be on the grid in little over a year’s time, he insists the process of establishing its F1 operation and the design and testing of its first challenger will not be rushed.
Indeed he does not expect the first Prodrive F1 car to hit the track until three months before its March 2008 debut.
“Everybody wants to know the state of our new factory and the number of our staff,” he said.
“But I can tell you that we are taking a very slow process to this.
“If my strategy works, as I am confident it will, then we will partner one of the leading teams, and our test programme and our whole build-up will not really commence until the end of the 2007 season.
“Certain people have to be in place during the course of the year, but it will be a small build-up.
“My experience in the past of building organisations has taught me that there is a tendency to rush off and employ people quickly and build things that you subsequently find unnecessary, and people you don’t really need.
“I’m going be very frugal about that.”
Richards’ outfit was selected as the 12th team to take part in the 2008 world championship by the FIA earlier this year and is expected to take advantage of new rules allowing teams to purchase fully customer cars.
Reports have linked the team to several Asian car manufacturers and although Richards confirms he has looked into the idea of building a completely new car, he concluded that this approach would take too long to succeed.
“We have looked into the option of building a team from scratch with new manufacturers – it’s probably indiscreet for me to say, but I have talked to two manufacturers about it, but ultimately we didn’t push it to the end state,” he said in an interview with Formula 1’s official website.
“If a manufacturer really wanted to spend that big amount of money, we could have done it, but for me personally, I actually don’t think I have the patience to do that.
“I want to do this for another three years, I want to establish the team properly, I want to see it get off the ground – and then I want to stand back.
“We have seen how long it took for Honda and Toyota and I am not a patient person. I’d rather have a short cut.”
Although Richards’ squad will be on the grid in little over a year’s time, he insists the process of establishing its F1 operation and the design and testing of its first challenger will not be rushed.
Indeed he does not expect the first Prodrive F1 car to hit the track until three months before its March 2008 debut.
“Everybody wants to know the state of our new factory and the number of our staff,” he said.
“But I can tell you that we are taking a very slow process to this.
“If my strategy works, as I am confident it will, then we will partner one of the leading teams, and our test programme and our whole build-up will not really commence until the end of the 2007 season.
“Certain people have to be in place during the course of the year, but it will be a small build-up.
“My experience in the past of building organisations has taught me that there is a tendency to rush off and employ people quickly and build things that you subsequently find unnecessary, and people you don’t really need.
“I’m going be very frugal about that.”
. He just needs to buy a chassis then.... Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff