The HRT thread

[DanielPT]

Instead, we should make a few of the current races non-championship, so we have 16 championship rounds and 4 non-championship races. That would be great!

Non-championship races would nothing more than glorified testing sessions, with people sandbagging all over the place and small outfits trying to shine in order to capture those prized sponsors that are left (hey, that is not a bad point! ). Except that no one outside F1 world would really care. And I am affraid that the money spent in shipping everything to the race tracks would not be covered by supposed revenues, meaning a huge budget hole for everyone.

[AndreaModa]

You know what I think it would, make ticket prices low, and there'd be loads of places that would take an F1 race, or an extra one to their existing championship one. One in the UK would definately sell at reduced prices, and I bet others like Italy and Germany would do well too. The Japanese would love an extra race I'm sure. It could easily be done, but there's no will there to do it so it won't

[Faustus]

Non-championship races have been mentioned loads of times in the last 20 years and it could be done, but ultimately would there be any money in it? Where would the revenue for the race promoter, the organiser and the teams come from? Not from ticket sales, that's for sure, so there would have to be an extremely generous sponsor that would pick up the bill for the whole thing with the likelihood of losing money. The costs would be obscene.
A winter championship would always suffer from not being the real Formula 1 championship and would always be viewed as a 2nd-rate event. It might get decent television ratings, but it wouldn't be the Formula 1 championship.

[dr-baker]

Instead, we should make a few of the current races non-championship, so we have 16 championship rounds and 4 non-championship races. That would be great!

Maybe no new countries/tracks could have a GP until they have held a non-championship F1 race. It would avoid the embarrassment Korea must have felt in the lead-up to their debut race last year!

Or else we could have a minor-state Winter series. For example:

0. Andorran GP at Pau or Barcelona
1. San Marino GP at Imola
2. Luxembourg GP at the Nurburgring
3. Channel Islands (Jersey/Guernsey) GP at Brands Hatch
4. Manx GP either on the streets of Douglas or perhaps Anglesey, Wales (or perhaps Silverstone/Rockingham)*
5. Monaco GP as a sister event to the Monte Carlo Rally in January
6. A Swiss hillclimbing event to represent Liechtenstein (hillclimbing remained legal in Switzerland, didn't it?)

* Yes I know I am obsessed with this idea, but only in the same way as Jamie and Enoch are with Vanuatu. And the Manx have an established motorsport scene already...

Just wanted to add to my crazy, unrealitic list. Or maybe it's the new A10 WS calendar?

[MaxZero]

Aunty Beeb saying that a German news group has suggested the second HRT seat is priced at £25m
An extortionate amount

[DanielPT]

Aunty Beeb saying that a German news group has suggested the second HRT seat is priced at £25m
An extortionate amount

I wonder who is capable of paying such price for that seat... That is probably the reason why it is taking some time to fill that second car. Realistically they will auction it to the better price, falling way short of demanded amount. But I hope that some sort of young multi millionaire gets to pay his way in, for that we can get an über reject !

[P_Friesacher]

Taki Inoue adds two sad pieces of news in the space of just one twitter message to speculations about HRT's drivers in 2011.

Sakon Yamamoto name is not in the shopping list of HRT. But over 10million euro is a huge amount. Who can pay it? Definitely not me. Hehehe!

[Klon]

30 Million Euro? How does Kolles expect anyone to pay this, even the biggest paydrivers in F1 history had barely more than ten. Unless they get either Nissany or Plamen Kralev this will never work out.

[JohnMLTX]

30 Million Euro? How does Kolles expect anyone to pay this, even the biggest paydrivers in F1 history had barely more than ten. Unless they get either Nissany or Plamen Kralev this will never work out.

Or someone with national banking.
If China puts up the cash, I could see Ho-Pin Tung getting in.

[mario]

30 Million Euro? How does Kolles expect anyone to pay this, even the biggest paydrivers in F1 history had barely more than ten. Unless they get either Nissany or Plamen Kralev this will never work out.

If true, it is utterly astounding - to put it bluntly, if you have £25 million of sponsorship at your disposal, you could have bought Petrov out of Renault with ease, and Maldonado wouldn't have got a look in at Williams. Force India, too, would race to throw one of their drivers out of the team and grab you (since Mallya wants new sponsors instead of having to stump up most of the cash from his own businesses).

It just sounds a bit too large to be believable, because any driver who has that sort of money would have been looking much further up the grid - and, moreover, it is about three times what Karthikeyan is said to have paid for his seat. Taki Inoue's tweet - suggesting a price of about €10 million - sounds more believable; it is comparable to the amount Karthikeyan is bringing in, and it is feasible, if not necessarily easy, for a driver to find that sort of money if he is well connected.

[thehemogoblin]

30 Million Euro? How does Kolles expect anyone to pay this, even the biggest paydrivers in F1 history had barely more than ten. Unless they get either Nissany or Plamen Kralev this will never work out.

Or someone with national banking.
If China puts up the cash, I could see Ho-Pin Tung getting in.

That's what we're all Ho-Pin for.

[watka]

30 Million Euro? How does Kolles expect anyone to pay this, even the biggest paydrivers in F1 history had barely more than ten. Unless they get either Nissany or Plamen Kralev this will never work out.

Or someone with national banking.
If China puts up the cash, I could see Ho-Pin Tung getting in.

That's what we're all Ho-Pin for.

So this is why Tung was granted a superlicense...

[David AGS]

My take on HRT.

First of all, give em credit for being in F1. I guess when a car is launched on the Thusday of the season, for a new team, with two new drivers, a brand new chassis you are already behind the 8 ball.

A small budget yes, but Senna brought little to the team, and Chandok bought a quarter of what he's meant to bring. A lot of reliability problems, so pretty much from mid-season onwards they were in survial mode.

So for 2011 its already much much better. A updated car. Also, Geoff Willis and Agatheliou (From Red Bull)have had imput into the car, combined with a reliable Cosworth, a new gearbox designed to the engine and all the ingredients are there. Also, despite not scoring points, they got 11th place instead of 12th(Virgin), so they may get some travel bonuses etc. Karthikeyan will bring the bucks, Id say Liuzzi or Valecchi would buy a seat there, and they should be good for the first or second test before the season starts. Whether that will see them be more competitive or now we will see.

[Faustus]

I have just ordered Spark's model of Bruno Senna's HRT F110 (would rather have Yamamoto's, but it's not out yet), so I now consider myself an HRT supporter and I'll definitely buy some of their merchandise, if they have any for this year.

[Wizzie]

Id say Liuzzi or Valecchi would buy a seat there, and they should be good for the first or second test before the season starts.

Anyone would have to be insane to hire Liuzzi after what happened last year. Infact I'm going to go out on a limb and say he's been massively underperforming since the start of his F1 career. (Canada and China 2007, Italy 2009 and Korea 2010 showed what he could do but where was that pace the rest of the time?)

[David AGS]

Agree with you Whizzie,

But where in coming from: Has f1 experience, and it will be his last chance. Also, Force India want to run diResta or Hulkenberg, and they wont let go of Sutil (even though he hasnt signed and is a pay driver!) they may have to 'sell' Liuzzi to HRT, considering he is under-contract.

Personally and being bias, Id rather see Red Bull pump $5 mill (loose change) in HRT and give Ricciardo a go. He aint gonna get a win or mabe not a point, but a year in f1 then to Red Bull or STR in 2012

[the Masked Lapwing]

Agree with you Wizzie,

But where in coming from: Has f1 experience, and it will be his last chance. Also, Force India want to run diResta or Hulkenberg, and they wont let go of Sutil (even though he hasnt signed and is a pay driver!) they may have to 'sell' Liuzzi to HRT, considering he is under-contract.

Firstly, Liuzzi won't be "sold" to HRT, they'll buy him out of his contract and send him packing. Secondly, why would HRT put Liuzzi in the car because of experience? Christian Klien was the experienced driver for HRT last year, but had the least money, and thus only got 3 races.

And I corrected your spelling of Wizzie, because I'm just like that.

[fjackdaw]

http://www.autosport.com/news/grapevine.php/id/89034

About time they had a makeover - that dreary grey car last year was as uninspiring as the team generally. Hopefully this is the start of a new level of enthusiasm and determination.

[dr-baker]

http://www.autosport.com/news/grapevine.php/id/89034

About time they had a makeover - that dreary grey car last year was as uninspiring as the team generally. Hopefully this is the start of a new level of enthusiasm and determination.

At least they'll look good on the way to another DNQ each weekend...

[Henrique]

At least they'll look good on the way to another DNQ each weekend...

Brofist, Doctor

Seriously, don't they have more important things where they should spend their money?

[fjackdaw]

At least they'll look good on the way to another DNQ each weekend...

Brofist, Doctor

Seriously, don't they have more important things where they should spend their money?

Could be a way to attract sponsors.

[Cynon]

http://www.autosport.com/news/grapevine.php/id/89034

About time they had a makeover - that dreary grey car last year was as uninspiring as the team generally. Hopefully this is the start of a new level of enthusiasm and determination.

Rather, about time they took an original livery instead of copying Ryan Hunter-Reay's IRL car from a few years ago!

[watka]

http://www.autosport.com/news/grapevine.php/id/89034

About time they had a makeover - that dreary grey car last year was as uninspiring as the team generally. Hopefully this is the start of a new level of enthusiasm and determination.

Rather, about time they took an original livery instead of copying Ryan Hunter-Reay's IRL car from a few years ago!

Seeing Narain Karthikeyan on a lightcycle would be impressive...

[ADx_Wales]

Lets hope he has a CLU what he's doing, arf.

[JeremyMcClean]

Lets hope he has a CLU what he's doing, arf.

Does this mean you're changing your avvie anytime soon? You do like HRT, right?

[East Londoner]

So Kolles now thinks a new paint job will make the car faster... Only if somehow they managed to secretly incorporate turbocharging (which they can't do) and hire HWNSNBM, then they will be.

[Kobacrashi]

Although i don't think a colour scheme can speed a car up i am pretty sure that it managed to slow down honda in 2007 and 2008.

Maybe Colin is hoping that it can have the reverse effect if it looks really sleek and cool, or he will just paint on a picture of a fast car. At least the car almost definately won't be grey any more.

[ADx_Wales]

Lets hope he has a CLU what he's doing, arf.

Does this mean you're changing your avvie anytime soon? You do like HRT, right?

Once the car is revealed there wll be an adjustment.

[DanielPT]

A cool colour scheme should at least make them cool rejects if nothing else.

[Peter]

Now more making fun of HRT becasue of a Hollywood designer modeling the paint. Kolles doesn't think the paint makes the cars faster, but a pretty car is a happy car, and this will attract attention of people, and sponsors.

[mario]

Now more making fun of HRT becasue of a Hollywood designer modeling the paint. Kolles doesn't think the paint makes the cars faster, but a pretty car is a happy car, and this will attract attention of people, and sponsors.

I think it is more the fact that HRT have still not announced their title sponsor (be it an existing backer or the Spanish corporation that Kolles says he has been talking to, but not yet revealed), a second driver, and the fact that the car will essentially be a modified version of this years car (at least according to Karthikeyan).
Getting a high profile designer to do the new paint scheme isn't in itself a bad idea - and I agree that a new livery could well make the car much more attractive to the viewing public, and therefore sponsors. It's just that it seems a bit frivolous to be worrying about the livery of the car when the general public is awaiting several more important announcements.

[MaxZero]

Heres hoping it looks awesome, but after reading about it help thinking about that TRON themed Segway.

With an awesome design i wouldn't be half surprised to see it implemented scrappily

[David AGS]

Apparently new car will be tested in last test before season starts. Karthikeyan says 2nd driver and reserve will be announced 'in 2 or 3 weeks'

[AndreaModa]

Here's something to think about: all the HRT talk recently has been about this designer and the car livery. Obviously it seems suspicious as the likelihood of them even having a car ready is a little far-fetched. But what if it's all sorted already? What if Kolles is bluffing a little, and this news about a designer is an example of how advanced they are for 2011?

Maybe not, its just a thought that came to me!

[Wizzie]

Here's something to think about: all the HRT talk recently has been about this designer and the car livery. Obviously it seems suspicious as the likelihood of them even having a car ready is a little far-fetched. But what if it's all sorted already? What if Kolles is bluffing a little, and this news about a designer is an example of how advanced they are for 2011?

Maybe not, its just a thought that came to me!

And I'm guessing according to you Force India are dragging out their driver announcement just to hide the fact that they're pretty much screwed this season correct?*

*Actually that's according to me but that's a different story

[mario]

Here's something to think about: all the HRT talk recently has been about this designer and the car livery. Obviously it seems suspicious as the likelihood of them even having a car ready is a little far-fetched. But what if it's all sorted already? What if Kolles is bluffing a little, and this news about a designer is an example of how advanced they are for 2011?

Maybe not, its just a thought that came to me!

And I'm guessing according to you Force India are dragging out their driver announcement just to hide the fact that they're pretty much screwed this season correct?*

*Actually that's according to me but that's a different story

Force India may well be screwed (mainly due to several high ranking designers and managers defecting), but that is indeed another matter. However, with the expectation that HRT are going to re-use at least part of their 2010 car for the 2011 car (and comments from Karthikeyan suggest that is the case), they aren't exactly having to start from scratch.
Besides, they can still reveal their new livery in Valencia as they have already announced that they will re-use the old car for at least the first test (they are planning on having an interim car ready for the 2nd test).

[DanielPT]

Anyway, the future doesn't look too bright for both teams. The Force India brain exodus started to take its tool at the end of last season. Expecting Force India to be nearer the end of the grid than last year. It seems that they are in a bit of management mess, leading to all those key people fleeing.

As for HRT, if it was already hard for them in a car 5 seconds of the pace, we can only imagine how bad it will be like with a version of last year car. The only good news for them is having rid of Xtrac gearboxes. The Williams package is a good deal and should make them more reliable to pick the pieces left by others in attrition races.

[watka]

Apparently new car will be tested in last test before season starts. Karthikeyan says 2nd driver and reserve will be announced 'in 2 or 3 weeks'

I love the fact that Karthikeyan is the "lead" driver! How bad are the 2nd and reserve drivers going to be?

[AndreaModa]

Apparently Kolles says it will be a completely new car after all!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89071

That F111 will be a right bucket of bolts I just know it!

[DanielPT]

Apparently Kolles says it will be a completely new car after all!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89071

That F111 will be a right bucket of bolts I just know it!

I think that he refers to the revised 2010 car as the 'new car'. After all, it is going to have a whole new and cool livery, so it is totally different!


EDIT: I was completely wrong! It is a NEW CAR!
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2011/01/25/hrt-plan-to-introduce-2011-car-at-bahrain-test/
How the hell did they pulled it off??? (Assuming they do pull it off...)