It was the best of teams, it was the worst of teams...

Brawn, USF1... You can understand why the sellers are, shall we say, downplaying the USF1 aspect.

You will remember how the North Carolina based "team" said it had bought transports and trailers from Brawn GP.

Lucky for the sellers, Peter Windsor never got around to putting new stickers on at least one of those trailers so this still is the trailer of the most successful "rookie" team in F1 history and it has Jenson Button's number on it. Looks like trailer 2 has no stickers but was the machine shop, trailer 1 has a conference area.

As Alex said in his message "What a great way to make an entrance at a Trackday World Championship 2010 event. Whoever buys it and turns up at a trackday only to unveil a tired, abused track-miata will be my hero. "

Calling Dale.... Dale Lomas? More pictures after the jump.

Brawn GP Trailers for sale: Trailer 1 Trailer 2





FOR SALE BY ORDER OF THE HIGH COURT (NO RESERVE)

*PLEASE NOTE THESE ITEMS ARE NOT OWNED BY BRAWN GP. THE GOODS HAVE BEEN SEIZED FROM A MOTORSPORT TEAM THAT PURCHASED THEM FROM BRAWN GP AND SUBSEQUENTLY FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR THEIR SERIES*



In accordance with law, the seized goods as detailed above will be sold to the highest bidder.



You are viewing one (of two) ex-Formula One Motorsport Trailers for sale without reserve.

All bids are for the trailer only.

As stated above, the trailer was previously owned by Brawn GP and this trailer is currently sign written with their logo and the name Jenson Button 22 on the side. This may infringe on copyright and/or trademark law and it is recommended the purchaser removes this livery upon collection.



Test Trailer (TT2) Triple axle straight frame chassis with 1250mm pin height.

MOT until November 2010
Transportation of equipment and Engineers office in front.
Rear fitted with Lista Cabinets and cupboards, power and data sockets fitted throughout.
Engineers office for approximately 10 engineers, with data cabinet, data and power sockets in tables, overhead storage, counter at front for data engineers.
2 off air operated masts.
Air conditioning.
Eberspacher night heater.
Side door on LHS onto slide out platform with aluminium clip on steps.
External storage lockers with coach style doors
90Kva Webb Generator. (serviced)
2 ton D’Hollandia Race Car tailift with central access door, aluminium clip on steps.
Hydrovane compressor.

Viewing is highly recommended at can be arranged by appointment only.

The trailer will need to be collected within 72 hours of sale from our storage facility in Oxfordshire.

The Sheriffs Office will require payment in full by bank transfer within 48 hours of the sale finishing.

Should you have any queries please contact us accordingly.

Trailer 2

Test Trailer (TT1) Triple axle step frame chassis with 1250mm pin height.

MOT until November 2010
Transportation of 3 single seater race cars and equipment.
Rear area fitted with Lista Cabinets, cupboards and overhead lockers, power and data sockets throughout.
Machine shop equipped with Lathe/Mill, draws/cupboards and overhead lockers.
Side door on RHS onto slide out platform with aluminium clip on steps.
Air-conditioning.
Eberspacher night heater.
Scissor lift to transfer Listas etc up onto swan neck area
90Kva Webb Generator. (serviced)
2 ton D’Hollandia Race Car tailift with central access door, aluminium clip on steps.
Low level external lockers.
Hydrovane compressor.

Stefan GP: Update to the Update

More F1 comedy: recently the German magazine Express had investigated the background of Stefan GP's organization. As reported by F1Technical this is what they found:

"...Recent uncovered details about the parent company of Stefan GP have revealed just why the FIA may have denied the team a grid slot for 2010. With its financial detail unveiled and dubious claims unraveled, the business looks like a fraud, rather than an F1 team owner.
Zoran Stefanovic, the team's owner and apparent investor, owns a Serbian engineering company named AMCO. Before supporting Stefanovic's Formula One foray Stefan GP, Cologne based Toyota Motorsport was told AMCO was involved with space and military technology.
Continue reading after the jump

AMCO claimed it worked with Germany's Federal Defence Force (Bundeswehr) on flight drones and contributed to the European Space Agency's orbit launch rocket Ariane 5. In fact web pages were set up to popularise this belief.

"After consulting with the system manufacturers of the drones KZO and LUNA we can confirm that in the Bundeswehr product there are no technologies of the Serbian company AMCO," said a spokesman of the German defence department Bundesamtes fur Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung to Express.

Furthermore, the financial situation of AMCO also came to light by consulting the Serbian company registry. It appears there that AMCO Corporation is a limited liability company, founded on 14/03/2008 with a capital of 500 euros (80% for Zoran Stefanovic and 20% for Vuk Stefanovic).

Going further, the company that totals one single employee, realised 3315 Euro in 2009 and a net result of 42.7 Euro.

Considering these claims, it may come to no surprise why Stefan GP was not allowed an entry into 2010."...

Just a day later an Update is issued:

"UPDATE: In response to this report, AMCO has replied us with a letter, saying "The German newspapers Express published an article that is not founded on facts but on speculation and bad translation.

The AMCO Corporation never stated anywhere that "it cooperated with the German Federal Defense Forces (Bundeswehr) on a production of an unmanned aircraft”. The correct information is that one of our engineers was involved in a construction of an engine for a German company, the buyer, which turned out to be for an unmanned aircraft. We never stated nor did we ever imply that we worked with Bundeswehr in any form or way. Furthermore we have no idea how we were brought in context with the other German companies with whom we had no contacts at all. Illustration about capabilities of our personnel in Serbia was misunderstood and maliciously used for sensationalist journalism. Such construction of facts can only be aimed to discredit us and all the others mentioned."

"On the other hand, our people should be recognized for producing parts for the ARIANE V rocket, seven years ago by our company in Serbia. We are very proud of this fact."

I took a look at Express.de today and found the Retort to the Update (google translated):

"...The business environment of the supposed savior Toyota Zoran Stefanovic is always dubious.
Only his Serbian company AMCO had omitted the claim to have developed the engine for army drones. Now unveiled EXPRESS: AMCO builds no parts for European space rocket Ariane 5, as claimed on the website.
In the European community company Arianespace one is shocked. Spokesman Mario Delepine to EXPRESS: "After careful review of all supplier lists, we can not establish any link our organization with the Serbian company AMCO. She has neither anything to do with the success of Ariane 5 project, nor generally with us as the world leader in the field of launch service providers. "
His colleague, Dr Franz-Josef Spaunhorst indicates a plea: "People will take the appropriate measures to prevent such claims." Stefanovic says Himself in the case of the Bundeswehr-drone of "misunderstandings" and "apologized". No consolation for the many ex-Toyota employees who had believed in his Formula 1 project."

Oops. Now, the question I and others have: this cannot have been hard to figure out, why has the FIA and Formula 1 waited so long to clear the air and call out both USF1 and Stefan as the obvious frauds they are/were? Maybe less teams means more money for the big ones and less tail-enders to subsidize?



end of post

USF1: From Sad to Just Plain Comical.

Like you I opened up my computer to see a confirmation of what I already knew, that USF1 was now officially toast (inevitable pun intended).
None other than Autosport proclaimed it, yet just three hours later a new headline: Ken Anderson claiming USF1 was not dead and in fact still looking for a 2011 entry!

I decided to call USF1 headquarters in North Carolina myself...



So USF1 has no car, no drivers, no factory, no backers and no telephone, of course the FIA will give them a spot on the grid for 2011! That's the comical part. The sad part, if Autosport's first report is correct, is that Windsor and Anderson were not present when USF1 employees were told the operation was officially shut down, lame.



Home

USF1 Toasters: I'll take two please!

A win from Adam Cooper's blog:

"A source close to US F1 tells me that the factory staff in Charlotte are in the process of making the toaster immortalised by a series of satirical cartoons on YouTube in recent months. And yes, I am serious…

Short of anything else to do related to their F1 car some team members are said to be working on the composite moulds for the prototype toaster, which if true at least demonstrates that the guys on the shop floor have a sense of humour.

Incidentally Peter Windsor has not been seen at the US F1 factory for several days, and apparently was not present when the FIA’s Charlie Whiting paid a four hour visit yesterday.

Meanwhile there are suggestions that following Whiting’s visit the FIA could formally revoke the US F1 entry and re-open the entry bid process – and if that applies to this season rather than next, then of course Stefan GP is the only team in a position to present a 2010 car. It’s a possible scenario but I stress that it is just one of many that are being rumoured at the moment.

It’s also been suggested that negotiations between Chad Hurley’s representative Parris Mullins and the new Campos management have not led to a satisfactory resolution. When asked for a comment, Colin Kolles told this blog, ‘We’ll see…’

If Hurley has given up on Campos then a deal with Stefan – which could yet involve a merger with/takeover of the US F1 entry – could yet come to pass.

As previously reported, a deal between Campos and Indian GP2 graduate Karun Chandhok looks likely to be confirmed soon."



end of post

Impudent Americans and Bone Picking Serbian Vultures

"...This is the legacy of the holy war waged by the former FIA president. The cause in question was to allow smaller teams to get into Formula 1. This is the outcome: two teams will limp into the start of the championship, a third is being pushed into the ring by an invisible hand – you can be sure it is not the hand of Adam Smith – and, as for the fourth, well, you would do better to call on Missing Persons to locate it. In the meantime, we have lost two constructors along the way, in the shape of BMW and Toyota, while at Renault, there’s not much left other than the name. Was it all worth it?..."

Blogging has gone mainstream in F1 now, what with the highly entertaining Ferrari "Horse Whisperer" column taking on the tone and arguments writers have been making in blogs for months.

Ferrari takes the opportunity to kick Max Mosley in the butt for using the selection of unlikely teams as cannon fodder for his war against manufacturers. A war which Mosley, on evidence, won. Ferrari's asks if it was worth it. Frankly, I'm not sure Toyota would still be in F1 (the one place they could have used some acceleration) even if they had decided to contest the 2010 season.

You can read the full "Horse Whisperer" column after the jump.


Maranello, 22nd February - Only less than three weeks to go until the ultimate form of motor sport, the Formula 1 World Championship, gets underway, while celebrating its sixtieth birthday this year. For many of the teams, this coming week is a crucial one, as the bell rings to signal the final lap, with the last test session getting underway in Barcelona. It is one last chance to run the cars on track, to push reliability to the limit and to try and find some performance. That’s the situation for many teams but not for all of them. Of the thirteen teams who signed up, or were induced to sign up, for this year’s Championship, to date only eleven of them have heeded the call, turning up on track, some later than others, and while some have managed just a few hundred kilometres, others have done more, but at a much reduced pace. As for the twelfth team, Campos Meta, its shareholder and management structure has been transformed, according to rumours which have reached the Horse Whisperer through the paddock telegraph, with a sudden cash injection from a munificent white knight, well used to this sort of last minute rescue deal. However, the beneficiaries of this generosity might find the knight in question expects them to fulfil the role of loyal vassal. All this means, it is hard to imagine the Dallara designed car showing its face at the Catalunya Circuit, with Sakhir a more likely venue to witness the return of the Senna name to a Formula 1 session.

The thirteenth team, USF1, appears to have gone into hiding in Charlotte, North Carolina, to the dismay of those like the Argentinian, Lopez, who thought he had found his way into the Formula 1 paddock, (albeit with help from chairwoman Kirchner, according to the rumours) and now has to start all over again. Amazingly, they still have the impudence to claim that everything is hunky-dory under the starry stripy sky.

Next, we have the Serbian vultures. Firstly, they launched themselves into a quixotic legal battle with the FIA, then they picked the bones of Toyota on its death bed. Having got some people on board, around whom there was still a whiff of past scandals, they are now hovering around waiting to replace whoever is first to drop out of the game, possibly with backing from that very same knight in shining armour whom we mentioned earlier.

This is the legacy of the holy war waged by the former FIA president. The cause in question was to allow smaller teams to get into Formula 1. This is the outcome: two teams will limp into the start of the championship, a third is being pushed into the ring by an invisible hand – you can be sure it is not the hand of Adam Smith – and, as for the fourth, well, you would do better to call on Missing Persons to locate it. In the meantime, we have lost two constructors along the way, in the shape of BMW and Toyota, while at Renault, there’s not much left other than the name. Was it all worth it?

It's Just a Flesh Wound

USF1 may be without money, sponsors, engines, chassis, drivers and a functioning press department but they are ready to go.

The only thing keeping them from the tarmac would be that mean FIA not allowing the team to skip the first four of the nineteen races on the 2010 calendar. OK.
Ken Anderson speaks to the NYT



end of post

USF1, Argentina Called: they are sending killer gauchos...

...to get the money the Argentine Automobile Club claims it deposited into USF1's bank account now that Peter Windsor, with tears in his eyes, has supposedly told assembled employees in Charlotte, that USF1 is toast.

Peter Windsor, el director deportivo de la escudería, reunido en la sede de Charlotte con el empresario Felipe McGough y con José López (padre), admitió que no llegará a construir los autos del US F1 en los plazos convenidos y que, con lágrimas en los ojos, no sabe qué hará con su proyecto.

Linked below is the actual original article everyone is referring to. At the meeting, the article reports, were Windsor, JM Lopez's manager Felipe McGough and Lopez' father. A teaful Windsor admitted, the article states, that USF1 will not be able to build cars in Charlotte and has no idea what will become of the project. Money has been so tight at USF1 that the team had been working with a dummy engine as Cosworth never shipped real ones.

But Argentines are especially upset over all the fuss with Windsor getting his picture taken with the president of Argentina and hiring their F1 "hopeful" just on January 25th. Now questions will come up as to the $830K portion of the promised two million from Argentina that came with Lopez' contract.

The Original article from La Voz is HERE

In case you still have doubts , read Mac Morrison from Autoweek HERE


end of post

Why did USF1 put its Charlotte factory for sale in early January? With Correction

Hmm.... our reader Charles woke me up here (thanks).... the story I had read on Joe Saward's (since corrected) site is not really right. Indeed the property at 9900 Twin Lakes Pkwy is for sale.

Formula 1 Race Shop - Five-year NNN lease 33,690 Sq. Ft. in immaculate condition. 100% air conditioned and heated. $620,000 in building renovations by tenant in 2009. Leased through June 2014. 9.1% cap rate.

But it does mention in the listing that it's leased till 2014. Apologies to USF1 then.... Now get that car out!

I know there are some who believe in a conspiracy against USF1, they will surely wonder who sent this rather obscure tip to Saward, one of F1's influential and usually trusted sources...

end of post

As Formula 1 turns, episode 1476.

Just a few days away from the first of the 2010 car launches, let's catch up with the latest circus news.

Mercedes: With Nick Heidfeld now officially signed as reserve driver, the German national team is complete and we've enjoyed watching the hilarious PR dance going on pretending Michael Schumacher is not being named #1 driver.

The story they came up with about Schumi being "superstitious about even numbers" has to go down as one of the funniest ever. Why is it even a PR issue to name a seven time world champion, returning to the sport after three seasons, one of the biggest stories in motor sport history, number one over a young guy who has zero wins in 70 starts, is a mystery. Does anyone honestly believe that team will not revolve around Schumacher?

USF1: They finally signed an American driver and by American we mean from Argentina of course. And by signed we mean they will take the check signed by Jose Maria "Pechito" Lopez's sponsors, some say as much as eight million dollars, a deal which has come together with help from prominent Argentinian politician and ex-Peter Windsor managed F1 driver Carlos Reutemann.

Ferrari: Why are they not publishing Massa's test lap times, to protect Massa or to protect Rossi? Why would they protect Rossi?

Lotus: Will return with an all black livery... add gold?





end of post

First Video of Alonso in Ferrari Red.

If you don't count that golf sweater in the Valencia sand trap a while back... First look at Santander sponsorship on the Ferrari team uniforms as well.

This was at the annual Ferrari / Ducati presentation in Madonna di Campiglio.







home

USF1: Efficiency and Rumors

USF1 is rumored to have asked for special dispensation from participating in the first four races of the 2010 season, only joining the crowd once the series makes it's way back to Europe. Peter Windsor almost immediately denied this but confirmed the team has in fact asked for and was granted by the FIA, two extra days of testing.

"It is an example of how the FIA and the teams have gone out of their way to make us feel welcome." Windsor claims, though one wonders where these rumors are coming from. One might also wonder why if, as Windsor has repeatedly claimed, working in the US in much more efficient than in the UK, the team needs extra testing days.

USF1 has just now hired a team manager and has yet to come up with drivers though they did release a video of a nose cone (not a toaster) being crash tested in the UK. Best of luck to them, hope they make the grid in Bahrein.





end of post

End of the Year Funnies...

Seriously, who gets tuned down by Ralf Schumacher? I can see the next USF1 YouTube cartoon now: "Yes Ken, I've got a brilliant idea on how to capitalize in skunk works way on Michael Schumacher's return to F1 and perhaps a new branding opportunity for our toasters!"
Read this funny article by Joe Saward.



end of post

USF1 Funnies

Have any of you missed the USF1 sendup on YouTube?
Brutal and Brilliant and, here, all on one page for your snickering convenience!

Full series after the jump.

USF1 Replies to Rumors, Blame "Zee Germans"

Formula1Blog.com interviewed Peter Windsor about the rampant rumors on the actual state of affairs at the North Carolina based team.

Windsor rubbished all attributing them mostly to "zee Germans" but also on anti-American feelings, jealousy, bureaucratic delays, internet so called journalists, Sauber and the Swiss and of course.

Mr Windsor called Peter Sauber a close friend and went on to mention how his friend sold out to BMW and should now not complain to the press especially if he is being given special favors and allowed, if Sauber were to join the party in 2010, to run a Ferrari engine rather than a Cosworth as all new teams are obliged to do.

Windsor did not really get specific as to why no American could get an FIA super license but hinted at sinister forces behind it and promised a US based development program for future drivers.

Good luck and see you on the grid in Bahrain? What do you think?

Hear the full interview HERE

home

Vaporware...

Vaporware is a term associated with Silicon Valley startups that are not quite what they claim to be. USF1's first major sponsor was a huge coup: YouTube... Or at least that's what everyone thought at first. The truth was somewhat less exciting as you will remember, Chad Hurley, one of YouTube's founders had agreed to invest in the team, an unknown amount of course. In reality once the news went out about YouTube there was little effort to really clarify the situation and that's perhaps understandable for a startup looking to attract attention.

Fast forward to the end of the 2009 season and we start hearing conflicting rumors of the health of some of those new teams who are to step in and fill the gaps left by Toyota and Sauber. USF1 in particular has been at the center of a lot of talk. Yes, they showed pictures of CNC machines and autoclaves but, frankly, they could have just as well been pictures from anywhere.

Then came the announcement that USF1 would not, as was their founding principle, hire American drivers. This was blamed on the delay signing the concorde agreement and on the fact that no available American driver possessed, or is in a position to be approved for, an FIA superlicense. OK right.

Before the final GP in AbuDhabi there was the announcement that USF1 had chosen as a European base of operations, Motorland, a motorsport complex in Aragon, Spain. That is great, where are the trucks, hospitality facilities, tooling, crew...

But what I think really got people talking online is the clip the Speed TV crew (of which Peter Windsor is a part of) slapped together for their Abu Dhabi broadcast.

Ostensively a visit by commentator Steve Matchett to the USF1 headquarters in North Carolina, it struck many as odd, especially the section with the computer modeling. Take a look...

Of course you cannot expect a company to show you their secrets but from that clip it looked to many like USF1 has a different sort of secret to hide.

This week we have a quote from World Champion Ross Brawn about how USF1 has yet to crash test any of their components, "For a beginner that's strange" said Brawn. The same report has Peter Windsor as the only person at a recent FOTA meeting who questioned the rule preventing teams from selling their entry spot.

If it turns out USF1 will not make the 2010 grid was it correct of SPEED TV and Windsor to create segments that perpetuate the illusion there is any fire behind the smoke? Maybe that's what David Hobbs' double take was really about.

UPDATE: USF1 Issue Denial.... more after the jump


Interesting, right after we noticed an increase in "chatter", USF1 has issued a denial. Motorsport-Total.com asked Ken Anderson for a reply to Ross Brawn's comments and about the apparently widespread feeling in F1 circles that the ultimate goal is the sale on their 2010 entry slot at a profit.

"The stories, as usual, are wrong" replied Anderson. "We have passed all necessary tests for the moments and have more planned for November and December" and goes on to say that even if the equipment is not there at USF1, they are within walking distance from many companies work can be outsourced to in Charlotte, NC.

"Ross is right, you have to experiment and that's what we are doing, every team has their own schedule, some will not do their crash tests until February. This is not unusual. You have to spend as much time as possible developing"

Brawn had said that BrawnGP had already crash tested a number of components in preparation for the official FIA tests and was surprised USF1, a novice, had not done the same.

As far as the sale of their 2010 entry Anderson launched a broadside at BMW-Sauber " There are people who hope Sauber can be saved and dream of ways tis could happen. I hope they get Toyota's entry slot and stop annoying us" and goes on to deny the issue of selling entry slots ever came up at a FOTA meeting. "Our entry slot is not for sale and never will be" concluded Anderson. Motorsport-Total's agrees that the entry slot sale is a pipe dream at best: nobody would need to buy it from USF1 if the American team failed to attract proper US based sponsors and make it to the grid, Sauber now has access to Toyota's slot and it's far to late for any other teams to be ready for 2010.

(pardon any bad translation... via Motorsport-Total)


Home

Where there's a will...

The principals at USF1 say the reason they cannot run, as promised, American drivers in their Formula 1 debut is because delays in the Concord Agreement left them with no time and that in any case, there are no American drivers who would qualify for a F1 Super license.

Remembering how Kimi Raikkonen came to Formula 1 after what, 10 car races all together?, I looked up the requirements set forth by the FIA:

Qualification and conditions of issue for the Super Licence

5.1 The driver must be the holder of a current FIA International Grade A licence.
5.1.1 The driver must also satisfy at least one of the following requirements: have made at least 5 starts in races counting for the FIA Formula One World Championship for Drivers the previous year, or at least 15 starts within the previous 3 years.
5.1.2 a)have previously held the Super Licence and have been the regular test driver with an F1 World Championship team for the previous year.
b) been classified, within the previous 2 years, in the first 3 of the final classification of the F2 Championship, or of the final classification of the GP2 Series, or c)of the final classification of the GP2 Asia Series or of the final classification of the Japanese F/Nippon Championship,

d) been classified in the first 3 of the final classification of the Indy Racing League (IRL) series or of the Champ Car World Series within the previous 2 years; been classified in the first 4 of the final classification of the Indycar IRL series the previous year.*
* From 1.1.2010: been classified in the first 4 of the final classification of the Indycar IRL series within the previous 2 years.
e) be the current champion of one of the following: Formula 3 Euro Series The principal national F3 championships of: Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Spain World Series F/Renault V6
N.B.: the title of Champion is considered valid for 12 months from the last race of the relevant series or championship season.

f) be judged by the FIA to have consistently demonstrated outstanding ability in single-seater formula cars, but with no opportunity to qualify under any of c) to e) above.

In this case the F1 team concerned must show that the applicant has driven at least 300 km in a current Formula One car consistently at racing speeds, over a maximum period of 2 days, completed not more than 90 days prior to the application and certified by the ASN of the country in which the test took place.
By exception, if supported by the Safety Commission, the FIA World Motor Sport Council may approve the issue of the Super Licence to persons judged by the Council to have met the intent of the qualification process.

In other words, there are set paths but also a lot of wiggle room especially now that the role of test drives is so reduced. Historically it seems to me to be a "where there's a will there's a way" process. So what happened to USF1's will?

USF1 (or USGP) have shown pictures of fancy equipment and hosted FIA representatives recently (you have seen the press release on every F1 web site this week) yet they still have no working web site and have not announced an engine supplier or even a european base of operations. That explains why there will be no American drivers, if USF1 is going after, say, Toyota engines, they will probably have to run a Nakajima...

So perhaps the will is there but not as much of the way as we are led to believe yet?






home

In case you missed the USF1 announcement ...

...yes, Danica Patrick and Scott Speed came up. As did the phrase "Skunk Works"... Very short on details, the biggest surprise is how long this has been in the works.



More clips after the jump.

USF1 preview...

The official announcement will come a 12 noon Tuesday meanwhile, Peter Windsor stopped by to see Dave Despain and discuss... Danica Patrick. Speed TV.







Home

Team America does F1

Starring Scott Speed and Danica Patrick.  With Peter Windsor as "the Brit" with a secret and Ken Anderson as "the Brain"

Currently plotting world domination from their remote undisclosed location in the hills of North Carolina, Team USF1  will be coming to a track nowhere near you in 2010.

Remember this article we brought you last July?

It's related.

and more related material.