Financial troubles for A1?

[Kiwi3]

How sad. One of the main points of A1 is to develop the sport in such countries as India where there is not much history - but that takes time. With such a young driver and Indian engineering staff instead of a UK based GP2 spinoff like many of the others, the current Team India setup was an investment for the future, disappointing that the seat holder is taking such a short term view and has run out of patience.

Quite a few other countries have not yet secured much sponsorship either, let's hope that Russia, Japan and India are the only dropouts and we continue with 22 teams.

Also, don't understand this comment:

I heard a lil rumour that Team NZ is probably the only country to be competing in 100% of the rounds this season.

Besides the above mentioned three dropouts, all of the others seem to be doing the whole season?

[BobHWS]

Originally Posted by mbathshah

...With respect to revenues I don't see much sponsorship on the cars (with the exception of China) and with TV audiences representing a miniscule amount compared to F1 how on earth is this series being funded?

I watched an A1 race for the first time recently (the Durban race broadcast on tape by OLN in the US) and that was the first thing that I noticed--lots of empty real estate on most of the cars. It was an exciting race, but I don't see how the series can survive long without more sponsorship money. Perhaps if the TV ratings are good, the sponsors will come on board, but right now it looks like major corporate sponsors just aren't interested in A1.

[Just Do It!]

Originally Posted by Kiwi3

The current Team India setup was an investment for the future, disappointing that the seat holder is taking such a short term view and has run out of patience.

Quite a few other countries have not yet secured much sponsorship either, let's hope that Russia, Japan and India are the only dropouts and we continue with 22 teams.

Maybe The Boss has actioned some initial franchise purchase agreements seeking payment for such??

[cos]

OK, latest is that India may not miss this weekend's races, but it could be a somewhat "fresher" team that competes. Guess we'll have to wait and see...

[Mekola]

Originally Posted by BobHWS

I watched an A1 race for the first time recently (the Durban race broadcast on tape by OLN in the US) and that was the first thing that I noticed--lots of empty real estate on most of the cars. It was an exciting race, but I don't see how the series can survive long without more sponsorship money. Perhaps if the TV ratings are good, the sponsors will come on board, but right now it looks like major corporate sponsors just aren't interested in A1.

In comparison to season beggining, many A1GP teams put some sponsorship on their cars: for example, carmaker Proton became sponsor of Team Malaysia, and Sonax is sponsoring Czech team. Among other teams with sponsors on cars are New Zealand, South Africa, Indonesia, Pakistan, Mexico and China.

[mbathshah]

Looks like Pakistan won't be there this weekend. Seems Adam Khan is still "injured",

[mbathshah]

Originally Posted by Kiwi3

How sad. One of the main points of A1 is to develop the sport in such countries as India where there is not much history - but that takes time.

Quite frankly I have been very surprised as to why oh why Team India would race a 16 year old who clearly is "massively" off the pace each weekend - He can't even bother to get his helmet painted - they should have run Karun Chandock who at least has got some proper single seater experience and not the son of the team principal/franchise holder

[Zandbak]

Every team has to disassemble one of their cars. The tub must be sent back to the HQ of A1GP. They can keep te rest of the car as "spare-parts". Looks like a strange rule to me

[C.U.Motorsport]

One of my university projects is on "Budget Vs Performance" and so I have decided to focus on the A1 GP series. I am finding it difficult at the moment to get even the roughest estimate on cost because everything seems so up in the air. Not even Arden Motorsport who run the GB team have answered my emails. At least Brian Sims is coming to the uni so i can hopefully get him to field some of my queries

[maximus]

Originally Posted by Zandbak

Every team has to disassemble one of their cars. The tub must be sent back to the HQ of A1GP. They can keep te rest of the car as "spare-parts". Looks like a strange rule to me

Why is it?

[Stephen Green]

Originally Posted by C.U.Motorsport

One of my university projects is on "Budget Vs Performance" and so I have decided to focus on the A1 GP series. I am finding it difficult at the moment to get even the roughest estimate on cost because everything seems so up in the air. Not even Arden Motorsport who run the GB team have answered my emails. At least Brian Sims is coming to the uni so i can hopefully get him to field some of my queries

Have you thought about writing to John Surtees who owns the franchise for Team GB?

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by Stephen Green

Have you thought about writing to John Surtees who owns the franchise for Team GB?

He is the front man. But he doesn't own the franchise.

[cos]

Originally Posted by C.U.Motorsport

One of my university projects is on "Budget Vs Performance" and so I have decided to focus on the A1 GP series. I am finding it difficult at the moment to get even the roughest estimate on cost because everything seems so up in the air. Not even Arden Motorsport who run the GB team have answered my emails. At least Brian Sims is coming to the uni so i can hopefully get him to field some of my queries

Probably not best to focus on a brand new series for such a project, since it will take a few years for budgets/benefits of sponsorship to settle down.
However, I think you'll be looking at around $8m per season for A1GP.

[Kiwi3]

Quite frankly I have been very surprised as to why oh why Team India would race a 16 year old who clearly is "massively" off the pace each weekend - He can't even bother to get his helmet painted - they should have run Karun Chandock who at least has got some proper single seater experience and not the son of the team principal/franchise holder

Good point. Only three drivers that I know of have come out of India onto the international scene and are still active:

Narain Karthikeyan - concentrating on F1 so unavailable.
Karun Chandhok - started the season but I am told there were issues with attitude and relationships with the team. Heard this on the gossip grapevine so don't know any more than that and don't want to criticise without the facts.
That leaves Armaan Ebrahim. Very inexperienced but I think has potential for the future (at least to Adam Khan kind of level), but needs time to get there.

Another thought is that if Karthikeyan's F1 career stalls then he may have to head to A1 as per Firman/Verstappen, in which case Indian sponsors should follow. Another possibility that suggests that the current issue with this franchise holder is short sighted.

[mbathshah]

Originally Posted by Kiwi3

Good point. Only three drivers that I know of have come out of India onto the international scene and are still active:

Narain Karthikeyan

I agree. I just don't see why Karthikeyan is so fussed up about being a 4th test driver with Williams. He doesn't really stand a chance of landing an F1 seat given that there is only one rent a driver team left in F1. Also his abilities are lacking to get a proper F1 drive. Having said that he should have gone to A1GP where given the opposition he would have had a chance to shine and put India on the Motorsport Map in a big way. I am sure TATA his sponsors would probably have gotten more mileage that way than having a driver trundling away at Valencia away from the media spotlight.

I suppose the lure of F1 is so great that common sense never prevails!