12 interested parties in Honda, one of them internal.
Discussion
It seems Mr Fry is also in the frame for taking over the team.
http://www.crash.net/motorsport/f1/news/173162-0/f...
http://www.crash.net/motorsport/f1/news/173162-0/f...
Crash.net said:
It has been revealed that at the same time as examining proposals from ‘something in the region of a dozen' interested parties, Nick Fry has submitted his own offer to seize control of Honda's beleaguered Formula 1 outfit – to the exasperation of other bidders.
Earlier this week, the team's CEO stated that from more than 30 initial inquiries, he had whittled the list of potential new owners down to around twelve for what he has described as a ‘once-in-a-lifetime' opportunity.
Whilst any new owner would need to convince Honda in Japan that it possesses the necessary funding in place to see the Brackley-based concern through the next five years, in return the parent company has promised to take care of the $100m associated debts.
Moreover, whoever does ultimately buy the team will get a paid-for entry into the 2009 F1 World Championship, four years' lease on the Northants factory, a 750-strong workforce and a car that – with development on the unloved RA108 having been abandoned early on to focus all efforts on its successor – should in theory be fairly handy.
After convincing Honda President Takeo Fukui to allow him time to try to find a buyer, Fry was tasked with coming up with a shortlist of possible investors by managing officer Hiroshi Oshima, with the intention that Honda in Japan would then inspect all bids and make a decision.
The Englishman's management buy-out attempt has reportedly caused anger amongst his fellow bidders, however, who are said to have received indifferent responses to what they believed to be well-financed and well-presented offers, according to British newspaper the Daily Telegraph. It is understood that despite having submitted his own bid, the 52-year-old has not been asked to step down from his role in charge of vetting the bidding process, leading to a potential conflict of interest within a company that has always taken great care to be fastidiously ethical and above-board in all of its dealings, and one that is highly sensitive about its public image.
Moreover, amidst the current credit crunch that was the very catalyst for the Tokyo-based car maker's withdrawal in the first place, Fry is likely to find it no easy task to secure sponsors and raise enough revenue to keep Honda F1 in business. A pertinent example of this is his marked failure to procure a title sponsor for the team in 2007 and 2008, leading to the façade of the outwardly ecologically-aware ‘Earth Dreams' initiative, largely dismissed within the paddock as merely an effort to conceal the fact that no major backers had been forthcoming.
It is just such a dearth of potential sponsors that has scared Prodrive chairman David Richards off the scent, after the former World Rally Championship-winning co-driver was initially tipped as the most likely buyer. The Welshman – who ran Honda in its previous guise as BAR-Honda from 2002 to 2004, with considerable success – has explained that with the economic climate as it is, an entry into F1 is not a workable proposition.
“All I can say is that I have made it very clear that the only terms [under which] I would ever consider a return or an involvement was if I felt we could be competitive,” the 56-year-old is quoted as having said by Planet F1, “and nobody expects to win in their first year of Formula 1.
“It has also got to be financially viable. You expect to [have to] invest, but you also expect it to work. I just personally feel that the current environment is too unsettled.
“The cost-cutting process that has been put in place has not yet seen its full benefit, and I don't think it will be until 2010 that you will see those issues roll out properly.
“The teams have still got a burden of overheads that is unsustainable, so consequently, with the window of time for entry, I just question whether it is right at the moment. It will be a hard-headed business decision [to return to F1], not an emotive one when I make it.”
In response to the rumours regarding Fry's personal bid for Honda F1, a team spokesperson would only say: “We do not have any update or comments to make regarding potential buyers for the team, despite this and other recent press speculation.”
Earlier this week, the team's CEO stated that from more than 30 initial inquiries, he had whittled the list of potential new owners down to around twelve for what he has described as a ‘once-in-a-lifetime' opportunity.
Whilst any new owner would need to convince Honda in Japan that it possesses the necessary funding in place to see the Brackley-based concern through the next five years, in return the parent company has promised to take care of the $100m associated debts.
Moreover, whoever does ultimately buy the team will get a paid-for entry into the 2009 F1 World Championship, four years' lease on the Northants factory, a 750-strong workforce and a car that – with development on the unloved RA108 having been abandoned early on to focus all efforts on its successor – should in theory be fairly handy.
After convincing Honda President Takeo Fukui to allow him time to try to find a buyer, Fry was tasked with coming up with a shortlist of possible investors by managing officer Hiroshi Oshima, with the intention that Honda in Japan would then inspect all bids and make a decision.
The Englishman's management buy-out attempt has reportedly caused anger amongst his fellow bidders, however, who are said to have received indifferent responses to what they believed to be well-financed and well-presented offers, according to British newspaper the Daily Telegraph. It is understood that despite having submitted his own bid, the 52-year-old has not been asked to step down from his role in charge of vetting the bidding process, leading to a potential conflict of interest within a company that has always taken great care to be fastidiously ethical and above-board in all of its dealings, and one that is highly sensitive about its public image.
Moreover, amidst the current credit crunch that was the very catalyst for the Tokyo-based car maker's withdrawal in the first place, Fry is likely to find it no easy task to secure sponsors and raise enough revenue to keep Honda F1 in business. A pertinent example of this is his marked failure to procure a title sponsor for the team in 2007 and 2008, leading to the façade of the outwardly ecologically-aware ‘Earth Dreams' initiative, largely dismissed within the paddock as merely an effort to conceal the fact that no major backers had been forthcoming.
It is just such a dearth of potential sponsors that has scared Prodrive chairman David Richards off the scent, after the former World Rally Championship-winning co-driver was initially tipped as the most likely buyer. The Welshman – who ran Honda in its previous guise as BAR-Honda from 2002 to 2004, with considerable success – has explained that with the economic climate as it is, an entry into F1 is not a workable proposition.
“All I can say is that I have made it very clear that the only terms [under which] I would ever consider a return or an involvement was if I felt we could be competitive,” the 56-year-old is quoted as having said by Planet F1, “and nobody expects to win in their first year of Formula 1.
“It has also got to be financially viable. You expect to [have to] invest, but you also expect it to work. I just personally feel that the current environment is too unsettled.
“The cost-cutting process that has been put in place has not yet seen its full benefit, and I don't think it will be until 2010 that you will see those issues roll out properly.
“The teams have still got a burden of overheads that is unsustainable, so consequently, with the window of time for entry, I just question whether it is right at the moment. It will be a hard-headed business decision [to return to F1], not an emotive one when I make it.”
In response to the rumours regarding Fry's personal bid for Honda F1, a team spokesperson would only say: “We do not have any update or comments to make regarding potential buyers for the team, despite this and other recent press speculation.”
TBH this story doesn't fill me with confidence at all - rather suspect that we may see the operation close 
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72738
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72738
pitpass doesn't seem to be my fry's biggest fan...
http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.p...
http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.p...
Hut49 said:
Wouldn't it be great to see a UK-based team, Cosworth engine, Button and Brawn emerge as a competitive enterprise in 2009. I'm not sure Fry figures in my fantasy - I've always found him a little short in the likeability department.
Nurse, its time for my medication!
Ever since they sacked richards and promoted fry to team principal, honda have been in a constant downward spirall, each year comes and goes and is branded as a "transitional period" ready for the following season. If they do make the grid this year i suspect the record will be repeated.Nurse, its time for my medication!
I cant see why they persist with the man (fry) he comes across as a total spanner, the frank spencer type.
Now hes dropping another b
k by pissing off potential buyers. what a complete tool.Im sure if they got rid of him, most, if not all of there problems would dissapear in a poof of smoke
infact they probably would even be in the situation they are in now.
regards
Phil
Chairman - Nick Fry Must Die Society
skinny said:
pitpass doesn't seem to be my fry's biggest fan...
http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.p...
I rest my casehttp://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.p...
Just read that now.
kevin ritson said:
TBH this story doesn't fill me with confidence at all - rather suspect that we may see the operation close
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72738
I think the team is dead in the water. The only engine supplier that isn't already supplying another team is BMW, and they don't exactly seem to be falling over themselves to supply engines to other teams. All the others will claim (as Ferrari have) that they don't have the capacity to supply a third team. Unless the team can secure the IP of the Honda engine and get it rebadged, or unless BMW step in and throw the team a lifeline, I think they are pretty much finished.http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72738
I still can't understand why Ross B joined a team with Fry O'Tool as the main man. Surely he was bright enough to see through that and have O'Tool "displaced". Or was RB just a money grabbing, feed-my-pension, arse-licker who saw an opportunity to line his pockets for a couple of seasons without rocking the boat. I never thought RB was the kindaguy to take second best - in this case he's taken 20th at best.
Teppic said:
kevin ritson said:
TBH this story doesn't fill me with confidence at all - rather suspect that we may see the operation close
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72738
I think the team is dead in the water. The only engine supplier that isn't already supplying another team is BMW, and they don't exactly seem to be falling over themselves to supply engines to other teams. All the others will claim (as Ferrari have) that they don't have the capacity to supply a third team. Unless the team can secure the IP of the Honda engine and get it rebadged, or unless BMW step in and throw the team a lifeline, I think they are pretty much finished.http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72738
Biggest question is that if Honda does finally fall, how many of the remaining pack of cards will go too, despite their 'commitments'?
9 teams (8 really) and only 6 cars with a chance of winning consistently.
And they call it Formula 1..............
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