2012 Silly Season

[Umai Naa]

Not sure why Ford persists with the FPV thing. Perhaps they need to sell a larger slice of the pie to Prodrive, and let them steer the ship.

They will never have what HSV has. I'm not speaking patriotically, either.

[Axeman444]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Problems for FPR? Here

they've advised this is purely due to lack of sales, and therefore the size of the company needs to reduce, and that there will be no change to FPR...

same as 6 years ago

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by Axeman444

they've advised this is purely due to lack of sales, and therefore the size of the company needs to reduce, and that there will be no change to FPR...

same as 6 years ago

So... why does Ford need FPV and therefore FPR?

You can kinda somehow envisage the whole Prodrive/Ford alliance thing falling in a pile of muck

[peckstar]

Essendon gives Ford star Mark Winterbottom a ‘mongrel' edge

just read this, had me thinking, Frosty does have a reputation for being cautious, has this changed this year?. His pass on GT in WA suggest he might, he has roughed up his team mate once or twice.

[Axeman444]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

So... why does Ford need FPV

well without being well placed, I don't know any other entity that could do the "performance road car" stuff, other than Ford dragging it back in house. However I see this as unlikely

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

and therefore FPR?

if they want to be winning in V8's, given the present results sheet, they don't have much choice

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

You can kinda somehow envisage the whole Prodrive/Ford alliance thing falling in a pile of muck

it didn't fall into a pile of muck in 2006, why now? People are realising that personal debt is bad, especially when consumed by wants rather than needs, and combine this with the desire to have cars that don't consume a large amount of fuel, equals a slow down in large car sales, including performance cars. I'm not seeing how this change of consumer thought patterns means Prodrive and Ford will have a falling out?

[STEALTHY]

Originally Posted by Axeman444

well without being well placed, I don't know any other entity that could do the "performance road car" stuff, other than Ford dragging it back in house. However I see this as unlikely

DJR did alright when they modded road cars (I know quite a few FPV owners who even put the DJR kit on their car)

I'm sure they have plenty of space available too (more if they dont remain 4 cars next year)

[Chris - Melb]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

So... why does Ford need FPV and therefore FPR?

If Prodrive theoretically was to no longer modify cars for Ford it doesn't necessarily have to alter their arrangements with Ford in regard to Ford Performance Racing.

Kelly Racing does not modify Nissan road vehicles for Nissan, but Nissan still want them.

Triple 8 does not modify Holden road vehicles for Holden, but Holden still want them.

[mspence]

Originally Posted by Chris - Melb

If Prodrive theoretically was to no longer modify cars for Ford it doesn't necessarily have to alter their arrangements with Ford in regard to Ford Performance Racing.

Kelly Racing does not modify Nissan road vehicles for Nissan, but Nissan still want them.

Triple 8 does not modify Holden road vehicles for Holden, but Holden still want them.

Yes, but how much cross-subsidy is there within the Prodrive Group from one to the other to pay the bills?

[Chris - Melb]

Considering its Ford Performance Vehicles that is downsizing, not Ford Performance Racing, one would think FPV needs subsidising, not FPR, if anything.

Regardless, I'm sure Prodrive could continue to run FPR as a stand-alone entity, just as any other top team does, especially after a stellar year they are having this year. Their magnificent performance can't do any harm when negotiating new or existing sponsorship deals.

[smokin'joe]

Originally Posted by Chris - Melb

Considering its Ford Performance Vehicles that is downsizing, not Ford Performance Racing, one would think FPV needs subsidising, not FPR, if anything.

Regardless, I'm sure Prodrive could continue to run FPR as a stand-alone entity, just as any other top team does, especially after a stellar year they are having this year. Their magnificent performance can't do any harm when negotiating new or existing sponsorship deals.

good to see Prodrive has got at least one of their projects operating to a successful degree. Their BMW/Mini WRC project was potentially a very good car, but for what ever reason, Prodrive couldn't attract enough sponship to run it properly, and looks destined to be a privateers entry only.

[Mixer]

Given that FPR has always seemed to be bottom basement with regard to sponsorship costs, one would think things are going to have to change. No doubt a big chunk of HRT and probably 888's funding comes from Holden, but you'd probably argue that both of them are able to sustain themselves without it; I'm not sure I could say the same thing about FPR.

[Chris - Melb]

Originally Posted by Mixer

Given that FPR has always seemed to be bottom basement with regard to sponsorship costs, one would think things are going to have to change. No doubt a big chunk of HRT and probably 888's funding comes from Holden, but you'd probably argue that both of them are able to sustain themselves without it; I'm not sure I could say the same thing about FPR.

I dare say no one here has seen all the books of all the entities you mentioned, so we would all be guessing. Assumptions and rumours are not a good basis for the 'facts'.

[Mixer]

Originally Posted by Chris - Melb

I dare say no one here has seen all the books of all the entities you mentioned, so we would all be guessing. Assumptions and rumours are not a good basis for the 'facts'.

Nowhere did I assert any of this as facts but I don't think you can really argue with the general sentiment. FPR has always had this *******ised sponsorship scheme where nobody really has total sponsorship of the car, therefore you can't ask as much money.

I think FPR is at serious risk of the Ford money being significantly reduced despite their on-track success.

[Chris - Melb]

Originally Posted by Mixer

Nowhere did I assert any of this as facts but I don't think you can really argue with the general sentiment. FPR has always had this *******ised sponsorship scheme where nobody really has total sponsorship of the car, therefore you can't ask as much money.

I think FPR is at serious risk of the Ford money being significantly reduced despite their on-track success.

Even Vodafone doesn't have total ownership of the T8 cars. It's only the primary sponsor, just as FPR has primary sponsors for each of its cars.

I think running four cars out of the one facility is only going to strengthen FPR's financial position next year. It will clearly amortise the standing costs of the factory better.

T8 have the run their facility from the budget of just two cars, FPR four.

[Umai Naa]

Bare in mind, Triple 8 have a fairly good parts supply client base going. There's 9 cars in the main game, plus the small handful in DVS.

Furthermore, they've got contracts for parts on the COTF. Then there's the customer cars that are coming out of that, which will also need parts.

Face it, Triple 8 have gone down a different path to FPR.

[Chris - Melb]

Originally Posted by Umai Naa

Bare in mind, Triple 8 have a fairly good parts supply client base going. There's 9 cars in the main game, plus the small handful in DVS.

Furthermore, they've got contracts for parts on the COTF. Then there's the customer cars that are coming out of that, which will also need parts.

Face it, Triple 8 have gone down a different path to FPR.

Yes, different paths and they will probably come out the other side reasonably even.

[GTRMagic]

Mr van Gisbergen has popped this pic up on his FB page...



It seems that someone converted the blue SBR FG into a matt black one...

Shopping for a new livery, or just gauging fan interest? Or maybe channeling his first year in the category as a TKR driver...

[STEALTHY]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Mr van Gisbergen has popped this pic up on his FB page...



It seems that someone converted the blue SBR FG into a matt black one...

Shopping for a new livery, or just gauging fan interest? Or maybe channeling his first year in the category as a TKR driver...

His car was always matt black

[Umai Naa]

Seems to fall into place with what I predicted earlier this year regarding the yet-to-be revealed livery at the start of the season.

I like it.

[Mixer]

That looks frickin awesome.

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Mr van Gisbergen has popped this pic up on his FB page...



It seems that someone converted the blue SBR FG into a matt black one...

Shopping for a new livery, or just gauging fan interest? Or maybe channeling his first year in the category as a TKR driver...

It's way, way, way better in black.

[glenn_a]

The rest of the story, before we read too much into it.

Thoughts on this? Bit of photoshop here by Adam Zeitinger.. Looks pretty tough!
(https://www.facebook.com/SVGSBR9)

Seems this guy has done quite a few different photos/ angles of it.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...9200497&type=3

I just think its some fan playing around, i wouldn't read too much into it.

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by glenn_a

The rest of the story, before we read too much into it.

Thoughts on this? Bit of photoshop here by Adam Zeitinger.. Looks pretty tough!
(https://www.facebook.com/SVGSBR9)

Seems this guy has done quite a few different photos/ angles of it.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...9200497&type=3

I just think its some fan playing around, i wouldn't read too much into it.

[GTRMagic]

Tekno gets a new round sponsor

Do we think they are paying full tote odds @ somewhere north of $100k a round for the signage?

[Razor]

Hmm. Thought I read somewhere a while back that Tekno weren't going to put one off title sponsors.