Never start a new F1 team, buy into one. Like Williams, although I hear that Red Bull wants a title sponsor. But, I would fund JG's P4/5 entry into LeMans, sponsor an IRL team, and sponsor a NASCAR team. That assures I would get great seats at all of the racing venues I like. That Boeing business jet would take me to all of the events. I would buy that acreage I found in NW Miami, and build an FIA approved circuit for the USGP. The vintage car museum would be on the grounds. More seriously, there are dozens of legit charities that could use help. Bunches of orphanages with kids that would enjoy seeing a car race up close. Finally, I would pay for Sarah Palin's one way ticket into space on Virgin Galatic. Making sure she could see Russia during the trip.
I'd buy an America's Cup team If I owned an F1 team I'd never be able to actually race the car... but I could race the yacht
F1 teams at the end of the season get a sum of money from Formula 1. The higher you're placed in the constructors standings the more money you get. A team like Force India could make a small profit this year. Remember that a lot of their money will come from sponsorship. It just depends on the cost of development really. Lets say that FI spends 300 million this year on development (they don't) yet at the end of the year, for a 5th place in constructor standings, they only receive 15 million, and the sponsors only add up to 200 million, they make a loss... Back OT: I'd do something similar to Klaas Zwart with his ascari resort in southern spain, but I'd move it to southern France (not that I like France, but the climate is nicer for doing balls out laps all day in race cars ). I'd probably get a personal F2002 and 412/t2 and drive the F2002 in BOSS GP and F1 clienti (mostly because F1 clienti 'races' at suzuka). The 412T2 in Monaco classic (HAVE to drive that track once in my life, not with traffic of course). For more 'serious' racing I'd start in the Dutch Supercar Challenge, mainly because the drivers in that are all gentleman's racers. If I prove to be quick enough I'd move over to FIA GT and try my luck over there. With a bit of luck, Le Mans would be a great experience I'd think. Watching it is boring but competing would be a whole other thing. I'd try to be a title sponsor for Ferrari and make sure Jean Todt and Ross Brawn would be aboard, including Sebastian Vettel and a good second tier driver, perhaps Massa. I'd just try to have fun in life in the end...
I think Klaas Zwart has got a great thing going with the Ascari resort, and I'd love to do the same. I'd love to host classic motoring weekends at the track like Lord March is doing in his garden. Unlike Bas I wouldn't move to France as noise restrictions are not funny anymore and even Mas du Clos (Pierre Bardinon's private circuit) has shut down. Italy would be great but not sure if you could pull it off. Worth a try, though. And a decent airfield for vintage planes would be fantastic as well. I wouldn't go into Formula 1, just too much aggrevation and the thought of having to deal with Bernie is enough of a turn-off for me. Anyway, back to the grainy film of reality... Onno
I wouldn't buy an F1 team - I much prefer watching Ferrari. That's what I'd do too... I'd have a full sized track for cars, a go-kart track like the one we rented for my Stag Do (60-70mph go-karts!), and lots of artificial lighting so you could race into the night if you wanted. Perhaps a nice hotel-like building next to the track facilities would be nice so people can stay over the night before and after... on the balcony area you could put some hot tubs so people could have a soak while they watch the cars on the track below. Yea, that's what I'd do. Oh, and... I'd have a nice restaurant in my hotel too, and perhaps a sports bar area where you could have hot wings, hamburgers, beer, and big screen TVs for watching other racing events (or replays of the action around your own track). I might open up a Ferrari 348 specialist workshop next to the track too - that'd be fun. I'd definitely have to invite Sy over to run his 348 with the Le Mans engine. I fear this fantasy might go on for a while, so I'll leave the typing there and just stare into middle distance for a while. ............................ All the best, Andrew.
Former ALMS Ferrari 550 Maranello team owner Gabrielle Rafanelli was posed a similiar type question over dinner one evening. When asked about his previous exploits as co-owner of Minardi F-1 and later an Italian yachting venture in the America's Cup. He said, "I goa to Minardi and spend lotsa money in Formula Uno and hava no fun. I go to America's Cup and spenda lotsa more money and hava LOTSA fun!". Asked if he was having fun in ALMS with the Olive Garden Ferrari 550, he thought about it for a moment and said, "Yes but it woulda be more fun if uh we can maka those rounda black things from Italy (Pirelli tires) work!". So, it would seem spending money on these endeavours is one thing, having fun doing it is another. RM
Rather than the headache of actually running a team, I would be more inclined to just heavily sponsor one, travelling the world as their VIP and banging chicks at each venue If I was a multi-billionaire, I could then afford to get divorced and merely be a billionaire...
I have to go with the track idea. I figure if I'm going to be a billiionnaire, I'm going to have lots of toys in the garage, and I'll need some place to play with them.
I'd love to field a LeMans team in the privateer class (GT2?) once or twice just to say I've done it. I'd also drive the Targa Tasmania and Targa Newfoundland (of course, you don't have to be a billionaire for those).
Start a fund to help underprivileged kids, autism and elderly. Call me silly, but I beleieve helping others and giving is th way to go!
For Le Mans 24h you have to be invited though. Not sure what the requirements are but I guess at least 10 races on 2 different tracks (FIA C License), no silly behavior during those races. A few other things. Frank Mountain competed in Le Mans 10 months after getting his FIA license. But then...if you're a billionaire, starting from 10 different races is no biggie .
I would definitely start adventuring. Dig up old myths, legends...spend the rest of my life pouring ridiculous amounts of money into finding incredibly old/cool things.
Doing the Jacques Cousteau ocean exploration thing would be fun. I'd love to build one of those underwater rooms like I've seen lately in travel articles (Maldives?); I used to dream of that exact same thing when I lived in Hawaii. It would probably be better and easier to rent the hotel one for a few weeks though!
there's an island for rent in the maldives with an underwater room...with massage table and everything . ~5K USD per week, not all that bad if I'm being honest! I'd also love to buy a nice yacht and do a lot of diving and surfing, traveling the whole world (well, the warm seas, preferably just the Caribbean Indian ocean now I think about it ) and take a few bodyboarding/surfer friends + plenty of girls with me. I've got my PADI but haven't been diving in a good 5 years.
It makes MORE snese to start a Formula Zero and run it as a series to drag away teams from F1 than to get into F1. Formula Zero Rules: A) There is a box 17 feet long, 6 feel wide, and 3 feet tall. The car must fit in the box with its driver onboard. B) There is no refueling allowed C) If anyone is seriously injured in your car or by your car, you loose point collected so far this season D) there are no other rules. Races to take place on F1 worthy race tracks.
