Motor Authority - blog Tag: Team

After Super Aguri left the grid abruptly last season and Honda F1 announced its own pull-out - only to be re-formed as Brawn GP - and Toyota was considering withdrawal as well, confidence in the future of Formula 1 was at a low point. Since then, a host of rule changes and some very interesting pre-season testing have drummed up excitement to levels not seen in years. Now Bernie Ecclestone is talking about the possibility of three new teams joining the grid in 2010.

One team, US Grand Prix Engineering - formerly known as USF1 - has already announced its intent to campaign next season. The two others are not being released yet, but... After Super Aguri left the grid abruptly last season and Honda F1 announced its own pull-out - only to be re-formed as Brawn GP - and Toyota was considering withdrawal as well, confidence in the future of Formula 1 was at a low point. Since then, a host of rule changes and some very interesting pre-season testing have drummed up excitement to levels not seen in years. Now Bernie Ecclestone is talking about the possibility of three new teams joining the grid in 2010. One team, US Grand Prix Engineering - formerly known as USF1 - has already announced its intent to campaign next season. The two others are not being released yet, but Ecclestone has confirmed to the AP that there will be 26 cars on the grid next year, up from the 20 cars and 10 teams racing for the championship this year. One rumored addition could be backed by Korean carmaker Hyundai. The 2010 season is also planned to have a $50 million per-team budget cap, lowering the barrier to entry into the series that bills itself as the pinnacle of motorsport. Ecclestone's controversial proposal to re-work the driver's championship points into a contest to acquire the most wins was shot down last week, but there are still plans to implement the system for 2010. Read More

Custom Porsche 911s are almost as common as the cars themselves, but the W3 Triposto is not likely to be lumped in with the crowd. With a center-seated driving position, speedster profile and outlandish design, the Triposto is anything but common.

Built in 2005 by Clyde and Hugh Kwok, a father-son team behind Wingho Auto Classique, Inc. from Montreal, the fiberglass, carbon fiber and kevlar construction is not your typical garage-built fare either. Drawing on Clyde's background as an engineering professor and Hugh's talents as a race car driver, the duo bent their creative powers to the 911 platform with surprising results. The styling of... Custom Porsche 911s are almost as common as the cars themselves, but the W3 Triposto is not likely to be lumped in with the crowd. With a center-seated driving position, speedster profile and outlandish design, the Triposto is anything but common. Built in 2005 by Clyde and Hugh Kwok, a father-son team behind Wingho Auto Classique, Inc. from Montreal, the fiberglass, carbon fiber and kevlar construction is not your typical garage-built fare either. Drawing on Clyde's background as an engineering professor and Hugh's talents as a race car driver, the duo bent their creative powers to the 911 platform with surprising results. The styling of the car's various elements pays tribute to classics from Porsche's stables. The Triposto claims its 300hp (224kW) output and 2,310lb (1,050kg) dry weight is enough to drive it to 180mph (290km/h), but to put that to the test would require a good helmet and plenty of nerve, given the open cockpit and barely-there doors. Thanks to the three-position seating, those brave enough to put the power down can enjoy the stereophonic screams of their companions while taking in the fresh air. The car is available as a conversion to a range of donor cars with a price tag of $250,000 - edging into custom Ferrari or similar territory, but its apparently excellent build quality could make it a collectible. Via: JalopnikWingho W3 Triposto Read More

Earlier this week reports emerged that Mexican billionaire and second-richest man in the world Carlos Slim had all but purchased Honda's F1 team as the Japanese carmaker exits the sport, but Slim has since denied any such interest. That leaves the door open for another possible buyer in the form of Force India co-owner Vijay Mallya.

The Indian billionaire's enthusiasm for F1 is undeniable. In addition to buying into the former Spyker team, Mallya is working with Bernie Ecclestone to get India added to the F1 calendar. If such a deal does move forward, it will most likely be at a street race designed by Hermann Tilke, running through the... Earlier this week reports emerged that Mexican billionaire and second-richest man in the world Carlos Slim had all but purchased Honda's F1 team as the Japanese carmaker exits the sport, but Slim has since denied any such interest. That leaves the door open for another possible buyer in the form of Force India co-owner Vijay Mallya. The Indian billionaire's enthusiasm for F1 is undeniable. In addition to buying into the former Spyker team, Mallya is working with Bernie Ecclestone to get India added to the F1 calendar. If such a deal does move forward, it will most likely be at a street race designed by Hermann Tilke, running through the Greater Noida area of New Delhi. Other possible suitors for the remnants of Honda's F1 program include PSA Peugeot Citroen and Prodrive's David Richards. The report today from Slim's Telmex racing team, revealing that Carlos Slim has denied any involvement in the purchase of the Honda F1 program came as a surprise, as previous reports had indicated the deal was all but done. The toughest work in securing the Honda F1 bid won't be the purchase price, however - Honda has offered to bear the outstanding debts of the team and put a price tag of just $1, provided a backer can convince the company that it will develop and carry the team forward. That's where the real cost lies, in employing 700 people and their attendant facilities and operations. Honda's 2008 F1 operating budget is thought to top $300 million, though a drastic streamlining could cut the team's annual outlay back to a still-substantial $70 million per year. Read More