Series financial security - Page 2 - 10-Tenths Motorsport Forum

RichardRenes · 27 Jan 2009, 18:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by TR7V8

I don't think they are maximising the revenue at the track. They only team merchandise in the official tent were caps, T-shirts & polo shirts & some lines were out of stock by Sunday at Taupo. There are plenty of other things that should be for sale like panama hats, sweatshirts, fleecies, key rings etc. What about mascots? The only replica car I saw was the NZ car (although if you bashed all the wings off & made it so the wheels didn't go around it might pass for the Monaco car

).

Non-NZ hats were going for $10! How can they be making money at that price? Also, wouldn't you expect there to be gear with the Ferrari logo that they could charge premium $ for?

Ok, so there actually is some more merchandise now. Only things available at Zandvoort were Team Netherlands 2008-2009 teamwear and the A1-TW steel cap.

No sight of the amalgam models for instance, and Scalextric was not to be seen either.

TR7V8 · 28 Jan 2009, 01:46

TW Steel had a marquee with a TV & comfy chairs but no merchandise that I could see. The did supply some girls though. This year's A1GP girls were very nicer than last year but the TW Steel girls were sexier!

Armco Bender · 28 Jan 2009, 03:23

Poor girl in the Dutch car seems to deployed the airbags..

LucaBadoer · 2 Feb 2009, 20:20

They were talking A1 on NewstalkZB the other day - they said that Giltrap put a few million out of his own pocket to enable them to race in Taupo. If it wasn't for Colin, that race weekend wouldn't have gone ahead.

Mak · 3 Feb 2009, 08:53

Wonder what equity was used by A1GP for Colins donation? Colin may have a grid of new cars to run in a newly formed NZ series in the near future. Have cars managed to make it onto a plane bound for South Africa yet?

**Kiwi3** · 4 Feb 2009, 07:58

My understanding from news reports on the subject is that a couple of other team owners also pitched in.

Hopefully we'll get an announcement about the speculated new investor/sponsor before South Africa, but we've been disappointed before...

TR7V8 · 7 Feb 2009, 22:44

There was supposed to be a new sponsor/investor announced 1 week after Taupo. What has happened?

Mak · 8 Feb 2009, 08:06

embarking on such an expensive up-grade and Ferrari engine contract/naming rights at a time when they had no money and had made huge losses in previous seasons. Last season looked like they were just getting things undercontrol and 2008/09 should have been a stabilising period. At the anouncement many people questioned the viability of this, however it was finacially guaranteed by TT. Also the cost of the deal struck with Ferrari at that point was keep fairly quiet. It is the lack of money which has caused all A1GP's problem. Late season start, late cars and teams, missing teams/cars, lack of calander dates and lack of media coverage.

RichardRenes · 8 Feb 2009, 21:04

OK, well, if for the first time in history, Ferrari is willing to supply their knowledge to a series other than Le Mans/ F1, and you are NOT taking advantage of that.. that would be unwise.

Yes, perhaps they hoped/ calculated that being tied to Ferrari would bring them more, but that has not been the case. On the other hand, A1 is not doing things they may regret later either. The gambling industry for instance was willing to sponsor A1 big time... but should that happen, people will allways wonder.. especially when strange things start to happen as radio traffic or dodgy marshals.

Mak · 8 Feb 2009, 23:07

just about Anyone can purchase naming rights and engines for a price, but you need to be able to afford it. The cost of the contract which Ferrari has with A1 and new cars has meant that they have not been able to run the series professionally. The Ferrari deal was a great marketing asset at the right price and if they had the money in the bank. Seems they had neither, over priced deal and no way to pay for it all.

Tyrrell · 8 Feb 2009, 23:27

The Ferrari deal was a great marketing asset at the right price

over priced deal

Both the aforementioned snippets are your words Mak. Which is it to be then?

RichardRenes · 9 Feb 2009, 09:20

And what exactly would be the 'right' price?

Remember, what Ferrari offered is an unique package. There is no other singleseater series around that is 'powered by Ferrari', nor will there be for a while (As Indycar will go for Fiat/ Alfa Romeo).

anyway, I think this discussion should be held in a 'Ferrari didn't bring anything to the series yet' thread

(winks to mod)

**Kiwi3** · 9 Feb 2009, 12:57

Note: the last five posts have been moved from the current season calender thread as they say nothing about the current season calender but are relevant to financial sustainability.

Mak - how do we know that TT could not afford it at the time? Nobody could foresee the financial crisis, and if the value of his mining operation (i.e. his worth) has gone down then you cannot blame his for predicting that a year ago.