What are the chances? http://www.crash.net/f1/news/153275/1/vwaudi_to_bring_porsche_name_to_more_manageable_f1.html "F1 » VW/Audi to bring Porsche name to 'more manageable' F1? The Volkswagen/Audi Group is mulling over the idea of an F1 entry should costs be brought down to a sufficiently 'manageable' level, a leading representative has disclosed – with an eventual team likely to go under the banner of the legendary Porsche name. The world's third-largest car maker currently owns ten brands – including Skoda, SEAT, Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, Bugatti and Bentley – but has not had any F1 involvement since the halcyon Auto Union days of the 1930s, and none at all in the official world championship, in existence since 1950. With the confirmed return of the iconic Lotus name to the top flight in 2010, it has been mooted that traditional Ferrari rival Lamborghini might similarly join the fray in the years to come in a theoretical battle of the supercar manufacturers – but Audi Singapore managing director Reinhold Carl dismissed that notion, arguing that the famous Italian-based marque neither needs the exposure nor has at its disposal the requisite financial resources, having only become profitable in recent years. That is not to say, however, that there will be no VW/Audi presence in F1, with the FIA's cost-cutting drive proving to be attractive to the Wolfsburg manufacturer – which is reportedly swimming against the tide in managing the present economic turmoil well. “Today, it costs well over a hundred million Euros to take part in F1,” Carl is quoted as having said by the Straits Times at the Changi Exhibition Centre. “If the cost is lower, it will be more manageable. I think it would be [under the name of] Porsche, now that Porsche belongs to the group, or Audi – or even Volkswagen. “We are still in the positive, while many others are in the negative. In Singapore, our sales are up seven per cent from last year, and despite these difficult times our dealer is building a new showroom.” "
Probably true...... but i would gladly welcome big manufactures into F1, perticularly Porsche or Lamborghini.
I don't see the benefit to Porsche. They already have their own Porsche-only race series to bolster their sporting pedigree. With a lack of history and experience in F1, I can only see it damaging the reputation of their marque to be seen being trounced by a team like Ferrari. They don't need to do it and it'd look bad if they mess it up. Add to that... even a 'manageable' cost for running an F1 team would be eye-wateringly expensive and the board will never approve it. Frankly, if Porsche end up in F1 within the next 10 years, I'd start checking Hell for snowmen. All the best, Andrew.
Also... as for other brands in VW Group's armament: Volkswagen - well, their GTi models are pretty good, but aren't really in the same sort of sporting pedigree as Ferrari (unless you're as bad a driver as LdM) and I can't see F1 participation adding a lot of prestige to that marque either. Audi - heck, they've seen how the return on investment didn't pan out well for BMW. No way. Bentley - not really, this is more a luxury marque. Bugatti - possibly, but there are no recently-designed 'supercar' sports cars that need to be shifted on mass. F1 participation is hardly going to boost the 'hypercar' Veyron sales. Lamborghini - this could help. But they seem to be doing just fine without it. It's risky if they do poorly against the likes of McLaren and Ferrari. SEAT - cheap and cheerful... can't see it really. Skoda - already advertised in rallying. Don't see a move into F1. There are some cars you wouldn't buy without F1 heritage, but I don't think their group owns any of them. I just don't see it making sense from their business perspective. In short, I can't see any new large manufacturers being forthcoming. All the best, Andrew.
Well... let me rephrase to say recent history. I'm not old enough to remember the original Porsche F1 team.
Think you mean the Tag - Porsche turbo Mclarens PM4 5's...great car and the really only success Porsche has ever had in open wheel racing. From my perspective, highly doubt that Porsche would go to F-1... their last attempt with Arrows / Footwork was a DISASTER and really embarrasing! they have nothing to gain. Now if I'm Ferdinand Piech, and have a hard on for the FIA, Ferrari et al... then different reason. I would race F-1 under the Bugatti name, lots of F-1 history - even if extreemly old... and be sponsored by VW+Porsche... or some of their other brands. Or go racing under the Auto Union name, and use it as an excersize for all their technology development... Hybrids in F-1? But Porsche in F-1 not going to happen.
No way. Porsche just got slammed financially buying VW and not being able to support the debt due to the recession. Porsche senior management canned, VW management in charge. Will not happen. Gutsy move by Porsche at exactly the worst time in history to make it. They became toast. Product line now determined by VW. Big changes coming. Likely no more SUVs and Panamera would be toast if it were not new. Taz Terry Phillips
They don´t even race sports cars now, wich was what they did better, so I don´t understand why they would want to enter F1.
The weird thing is, I can't quite figure out where it went wrong for Porsche in the VW takeover. By the time anyone realised how serious they were in their takeover bid, didn't they have like 75% of the shares when everyone assumed they only had 35%? This caused the massive spike in VW share prices as someone was shorting them and there weren't enough shares to buy back, Porsche sold a few of them to 'ease the market' (i.e. 'cash in') on that, and I gather that went very well for them. I don't really know how it went wrong after that. All the best, Andrew.
And this is a bad thing? As somebody who has owned too many Porsche to count, none of which were newer than a 1990, this is taken as great news. For the true Porschefiles the company that we all knew and loved ceased to exist with the fundamental change of the company's mission around the turn of the century. Perhaps a return to F1, along with the demise of the abominable vehicles above, would bring the old school core audience back to the marque. Furthermore, the argument could be made that Porsche can go back to being a sports car builder instead of a 'business' making a return to F1 not all that unlikely. I am probably in the minority here but IMO the world be as near a prefect place as I have ever seen in my lifetime with Porshce, and a serious US outfit, running along Ferrari in F1.
I 'd love to see Porsche sponsor Bugatti in F1. Bugatti has a storied past that Porsche could exploit to broaden the Bugatti brand tremendously. F1 would be the perfect platform for that, and makes a lot of sense from that perspective.
Arguably the most dominant engine in the most engine dominated era of F1. And look! One was for sale not too long ago for only $10k........ http://www.motorsportcollector.com/TAGEngine.html Imagine that in a 917 LMK. That would be tight!
Too much downside. They would have to win or their image would be tarnished. I'm very surprised KIA/Hyundai has not entered. Nothing but upside for them. As much as my stomach would turn.
Indeed they would. Even if allowed to run their own engines the odds would be against any success in under 4-5 years. Besides why put one of the greatest motorsports images of all times at the mercy of the unpredictable FIA?
What if Volksy could get approval to use two car names for one two-car team? Same car, but one would be called an Auto Union and have sponsorship from Volkswagen's German brands and the other would be a Bugatti with sponsorship from the non-German brands. I would nominate Vettel to drive the Auto Union.
