Filed under: Motorsports
Theissen: more automakers considering entering F1
According to Mario Theissen, a number of carmakers are carefully thinking about getting into Formula One. Theissen is head of BMW Motorsports, and after running the Bavarian automakers foray into engine supply in partnership with the Williams team, led the company towards buying the Sauber team wholesale. In a short span of time and with minimal investment, Theissen has transformed the team from a solid midfield contender to a legitimate challenger for the championship alongside McLaren and Ferrari. Theissen believes that other automakers, inspired by BMW's success, are re-examining the prospect of joining Formula One. The BMW chief also believes that the development of the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) being implemented in F1 is a strong motivator for automaker participation, noting that BMW's own R&D departments are anxiously knocking at Sauber's door to derive road-going systems based on KERS.
Although Formula One presents a lackluster case for American automakers, many of the world's leading foreign manufacturers participate in the sport, including BMW, Renault, Mercedes-Benz, Fiat, Honda and Toyota. So who does that leave? Theissen says Volkswagen/Audi/Porsche are closely considering entering F1, along with several unnamed Asian automakers. Although its sister company Renault already runs a team, Nissan has been touted as a possible entry. More likely, however, is that Hyundai/Kia will seek the prominence and the technology to go with its rise in the ranks by joining the fray.
[Source: F1-Live, Photo: Mark Thompson/Getty]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
waiownsyou 6:11PM (7/07/2008)
So instead of concentrating on R&D at a time of economic crisis, they decide it's time to get their race on?
WTF, son?!
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Soul Shinobi 7:13AM (7/08/2008)
Cutting edge R&D is half the point of racing, the other half being publicity.
why not the LS2LS7? 6:18PM (7/07/2008)
Makes no sense. If paying all that money to enter F1 and develop a Kinetic Energy Recovery System makes sense, then not entering F1 and developing a KERS makes even more financial sense.
Can we discuss KERS somewhere? I can't see how they would work with a significant electrical component.
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noodlz 6:23PM (7/07/2008)
Oh how I would love to see an Audi F1 car.
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pmiddle5 1:47AM (7/08/2008)
Audi is LeMans, Porsche is GT racing; More so VW for f1?..
guy 6:53PM (7/07/2008)
I want to see a Lotus comeback. Volkswagen/Porsche would be cool.
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Terry 6:54PM (7/07/2008)
I've always wondered how Porsche would fair in F1. Talk about a great rivalry between the P-cars and the F-cars! I hope it happens.
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rab 7:45PM (7/07/2008)
In the 1980's Porsche engines powered McLaren to three World Championships.
Terry 9:24PM (7/07/2008)
I did not know that.
Disgruntled Goat 6:59PM (7/07/2008)
The Big 2.2 are more interested in throwing money at the pinnacle of American know-how and technology - NASCAR.
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Chaparral 10:42PM (7/07/2008)
This comment of course runs under the assumption that NASCAR is the pinnacle of American technology.
Of course most people are unaware of how technologically advanced NASCAR is becoming. Mostly because NASCAR does not want to advertising just how much technology is going into these cars because it taints the down to earth image that they like to convey, it shows just how much the sport has changed in the past 10 years, and it makes it about the cars and not the drivers. This is unlike F1 and many other series that want to show off the technology as one of the reasons for the existence in the first place.
You only need to look at the sorts of budgets manufacturers and top teams are spending every year and combine that with the super restrictive rules, to show that they are spending boatloads on R&D. A good example is simulation, because of the very restrictive rules has forced the teams to really invest in very accurate simulations. Also the restrictive rules on data acquisition has forced some clever ways to get the correct parameters for simulation in the first place. Not to mention all the former F1 engineers now working in NASCAR.
Although the dollar values are small compared to F1, they probably are larger than any other form of motorsports. Within 5 years NASCAR will easily be second to F1 in terms of technology. You only need to look at the budgets and just how much of an audience it has. Of course this technology will be to get miniscule gains on the track and be buried deep in a coating on a piston, but those small gains mean alot in oval racing as tight as NASCAR is.
Maverick Saturn 9:37AM (7/08/2008)
I'd rather see that money going into F1 ¬_¬ I've never much enjoyed Nascar, the speed is nice and all, but it doesn't give me enough motivation to watch.
info 10:52AM (7/08/2008)
>>>Of course most people are unaware of how technologically advanced NASCAR is becoming.
tankd0g 7:00PM (7/07/2008)
I'm surprised Hyundai isn't in there already I would have put money on the Koreans having a team before India.
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Ian 7:14PM (7/07/2008)
The ridulous cost of F1 is not going to attract any new manufacturer unless real progress on REAL cost cutting takes place. Meantime how long will Honda spenmd for no results? Where's the queue forming from the manufacturers to buy STR and Best Friends?
Methinks Thiesen is talking his own book.
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jdoo 8:21PM (7/07/2008)
I like to slag on Honda as much as the next guy, but Rubens was on the podium on Sunday. The arrival of Ross Brawn on the team is going to transform them. Ross is the mastermind behind 5 of MSC's 7 championships. I have no doubt he will be collecting podiums and trophys for Honda in the near future.
Matt 4:12AM (7/08/2008)
Brawn was actually behind all 7 of MSC's championships. He was technical director at Benetton where MSC won his first 2 championships.
Ian 7:45AM (7/08/2008)
It's given that Brawn will improve Honda. But the spending in F1 makes it a poor value proposition to new manufacturers entering the business.
Nicres 7:18PM (7/07/2008)
My tip would for Porsche/Audi/VW to enter a car under the Buggatti banner- reviving a classic racing name with Grand Prix heritage.
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SimbaDogg 7:44PM (7/07/2008)
it'd make more sense to to it under a audi or porsche moniker. Its easy for Ferrrari, MB, BMW, Honda and others to say that their sports car has technology directly derived from f1 racings. Ferrari/honda/BMW in f1 = the same on the street. The waiting list for people able to fork out the cash to buy a Veryon...eh, not so long.
My point in a nutshell, you'd def attract more customers under a f1 inspired r8 or a porsche inspired gt than you would a veyron.