Now... I know what you are thinking... its WAAAAAYYY to early for a 2013 Silly Season thread... but with the recent announcement of the Nissan/Kelly Racing alliance... the teams have put 2013 into play for us already...
So.. what do we 'know' right now?
There are 5 constructor teams....
888 - Holden & Ford bodied chassis, likely building chassis for DJR, Tekno, LDM
HRT - Holden bodied chassis, likely building chassis for GRM, BJR
SBR - Ford bodied chassis, likely only building enough cars for themselves
FPR - Ford bodied chassis, presumably building a car for TDR
KR/Nismo - Nissan bodied chassis, have said they are only building enough chassis for themselves
Where will the other teams go for their chassis?
The biggest assumption here is that 888 will build chassis for both Holden and Ford panels to be wrapped around. 888 race engineering has gone out of its way to separate itself in the hearts and minds from the Team Vodafone race team... is it possible? Will their Holden deal allow such a thing? Remember Holden came onboard sponsoring Team Vodafone after they had finished building their last Ford paneled chassis... assuming it is Holden that Team Vodafone runs in 2013 of course
It has been rumoured that GRM might buy chassis from WP, but if GRM change carmakers, then it isnt likely WP will build them chassis to wrap Great Wall or Chery or Chrysler panels around. Or is it?
What will Nismo/Kelly look like next season?
Story Here suggests he isnt likely to remain there if Nissan is the weapon of choice. Are they serious about the 'Nissan works' look for the cars? Is Mr Reindler still the pilot of choice for the 4th chassis? And who might replace Mr Murphy? An international Nissan placement perhaps?
Will PMM get their own band back together, or as is rumoured are they taking a stake in making sure DJR returns stronger? Could the 2 PMM RECs end up at DJR, alongside the single DJR REC and single FFF REC to offer a 4 car offering for a new car maker? And if so.. who might that be? And would 888 have the capacity & willingness to supply the chassis to wrap panels around?
What of Mr Schwerkolt's Chasports REC? Will it really leave DJR at season's end, and perhaps replace Tekno's leased PMM version? And if so, will Mr Patrizi still be the chosen pilot? Or is this Mr Moffat's possible future home?
Was Tekno pulling people's legs when they were talking after Bathurst of introducing a new car maker into the sport? Who might it be? And would 888 really build them chassis to wrap panels around something other than a Ford/Holden?
Will BJR continue with their Holden customer program, or is there a 4 ringed brand in their future? Where would the chassis then come from to wrap those panels around?
Will Ford continue to support both SBR & FPR in their CotF Falcons?
If SBR loses Ford backing, do they have a Plan B, to go to another car maker, or indeed have the commercial gravitas to replace the currently Ford signage space with other brands... and stick it up the factory team
Will FPR still be around if they arent successful in this year's series?
Lots of questions.. some answers will fall out of the happenings of this season... that's why its all Silly I guess... but it might be good fun to watch on anyway!
Race Official
2013 Silly Season (Merged)
... that's the funniest thing I've heard in a long time.
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