HONDA QUITS F1

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72333

Was just reading about the Honda debacle on Autosport.com and saw this - Audi have withdrawn from ALMS as well as LMS. What does their motorsport program look like now, just DTM?

Omg, whats happend to ALMS!!! Im so pissed that Penske left man!! And dyson is gonna use Mazdas now so no Porsche in P2... ughh this sucks.... Why are all these teams leaving? Money?

Pretty much, the global cash crisis is really hitting motorsport hard - as was to be expected, I suppose.

Counting the cost so far...

Seat Sport UK - BTCC
Honda Racing - Formula 1
Super Aguri - Formula 1
Audi Motorsport - ALMS & LMS

Who else can we add to this list?

money seems to be a problem eveywhere now

Audi will be back in once the R15 is out + they got the R8 GT3.

Maybe my inside source is bang on??!!!!

i didn't know seat left due to money reasons. tbh i never erally knew why they left, i just remeber them sayisn that they had done what they had to do and got their cars elling better in the uk....money trouble sounds a little less big headed tho lol

It said in that article that the the R8 is only a customer program...so far anyway...

SEAT essentially cut their motorsport programs down to just WTCC as a result of the cash crisis. They are protecting the core of the business, and you know what, they probably did achieve their aim of improving the brand in the UK...

...after all, I drive a SEAT Leon!

lol, they defo did, seats were considered cheap before they started racing.

Bloody are cheap too, build quality is shocking in mine - glove compartment keeps falling open, leaky seals in the doors and boot, remote locking is buggered in the key, bonnet latch doesn't release properly...

Y'now what though, it's f**king brilliant to drive, and I love even the ten minute drive to work. Keep trying to set a personal best without annihalating the speed limit - 6.52 at the moment!

lol, my mum was considering the leon until she compared the quality inside to that of a titanium focus...she got the focus lol. I wanted her to get the FR tho...

Have no doubt the Focus is a great car, but I bet the FR would've been more fun. I know I wouldn't trade my Leon for a Focus having driven both.

Anyways, we are getting waaaay off topic here!

yeah your right

HONDA QUITTING?!

At leats toyota have confirmed that they will be sticking to F1

Get the feeling this is gonna be one of the most eventful off-seasons in a while...

Yup I believe so!!Looks like alot of the teams will be launching early too. Now I know McLaren build beautiful cars but even they are gonna have a hard tme with these regs!!
Its sad coz I really thought (as didmany) that Honda were going to produce somethign truely special this season

(Oh n ck send me over the btcc runner whenever you're ready mate

I can't, it's not a giftable car, will need to stick it in the AH when we are both next on for 10k.

Ahhhhhh yeah soz I forgot..... troublesome bloomin thing!!
When you next online mate?

Will hopefully be on later today (if the missus gives me peace!)

no probs buddy.... I'll probs nip on in a while and TRY to do sum more testing. Quite pleased with my set up just now.. dunno how it relates to your times but I'm happy with the set up .......but we digress

ah so Prodrive is one of the intereted parties

http://www.planetf1.com/story/0,18954,3213_4610978,00.html

no mention of audi tho the other two parties is a dubai group and a formula 3 team...

they were not one of the original 3...

I'd like to see Prodrive get it.... though with Force India essentially getting McLaren's attention it'd be interesting to see where engines come from!
I don't think Carlin is a credible one though, too small. I mean big in F3 standards but not in the sense of F1. I think CR Scuderia would be in with more of a chance than Carlin!!!! lol

Ross Brawn said that engine will not be a problem, at all. Which means they will be ferrari engines since the have a full spare stock of them due to force india leaving them for mercedes engines...