Bob Barnard Track Engineering

It is reported that Gene Haas and Colin Colles will be granted the two extra F1 team slots today by the FIA. Why they would want them is the bigger question. Colin Colles can't help himself. After the HRT experience why would he think this one can succeed? He just wants to go racing, as long as someone else is paying it seems..

Gene Haas is a much more serious proposition though. With a successful CNC business, a NASCAR team with Tony Stewart, and an interest in the Mooresville wind tunnel he has the money to back this and the know how, but again why? HRT demonstrated the likely out come,and both Murussia and Caterham are shining examples of how hard it is for new teams under Bernie's winner take all payment scheme. The "owner" of Marussia, Cheglakov, has given up on his supercar plans and F1 it seems, so Gene could buy that as a cheap way in. Tony Fernandes has warned that this year could be the last for him to pour money into without results. So the omens are not good for a new team.

Then there is the current state of F1. Bernie's case starts soon, and he is running around talking about a "new" GP1 series based on GP2 cars. So where would that leave Gene with his new team? There must be a more secure and possibly cheaper way of promoting his business. With the current state of motor sport I'm sure there are lots of teams in WEC, WTCC, GP2 etc that would love to put Haas on the sides of their car. Or if he wants world wide coverage go and sponsor or buy a soccer team.

It is a sad indictment of our sport that one of the main stories is Bernie being willing to sell his shares in QPR, Queens Park Rangers soccer team. QPR have had moments of success, but have always been the bridesmaid to other London teams like Tottenham and Arsenal, and lately Chelsea. As always Bernie will make money on the deal.

Joe Saward poses the interesting question about Bernie having been the subject of extortion by Gribkowsky. This is the latest version of where the $50m, or $40m, whichever the story, came from. Bernie has been cooperating with the German Authorities, and if true could get his money back. The question Joe poses is, what did Gribkowsky know about Bernie that made him pay up? As he says, the Authorities may not care, but a journalist somewhere will.

Tony Fernandes confirms the Caterham purchase amid rumors that he will change the name of the F1 Team if he loses the court case, the decision on which we are still waiting to hear. The Caterham has a lineage that goes back to the start of Lotus, beginning life as a barely legal road car you built out of a kit called the Lotus 7. Without any need for a connection to F1, Tony has made a very smart move to bring low cost sports cars and weekend race cars to the far east. Here is a man building the sport and the business for the long haul.