Crowdfunding in F1?

[Lazadude]

Caterham now looking for £2.35m to be donated by the public in order for them to race.

Seems very wrong to me.

http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/17583/9554099/ca...

[zac510]

Gaz. said:

At the other end of the pit lane, would you be happy to give money to Mclaren to piss away two titles in 2012, throw a very good car in the bin in 2013 and massively underperformed for two seasons?

Plenty of people buy their merchandise.

[thegreenhell]

It's pretty sad when a team resorts to crowdfunding to be able to afford to race, when the sport generates around $2 billion each year.

[McClure]

Sorry for the employees but I wouldn't give 1p to that thanks to the previous mis-managing bunch of cretins.

[rallycross]

What pathetic attempt to keep the shambles alive its a shame to see Marussia fold as they were making a decent go of it compared to the mess at Caterham.

[anonymous-user]

rallycross said:

What pathetic attempt to keep the shambles alive its a shame to see Marussia fold as they were making a decent go of it compared to the mess at Caterham.

A decent go? They obviously were in just as much mess as Caterham but were better at hiding it.

[anonymous-user]

Apparently they've already got over £6k pledged. Fools and their money?

[Scuffers]

REALIST123 said:

Apparently they've already got over £6k pledged. Fools and their money?

where you looking at that?

I see it currently at £110,315

[anonymous-user]

Scuffers said:

REALIST123 said:

Apparently they've already got over £6k pledged. Fools and their money?

where you looking at that?

I see it currently at £110,315

Really? I'm watching FP2 and they just said £6K. Also said the paddock are viewing the exercise as a cynical, degrading move.

Edit: maybe they said over £106K.

[woof]

Here's the link
Good luck to them
Just checked the T&Cs and Caterham only accepts your offer once the Target Amount is reached, and a binding contract is made between you and Caterham at that point and not before. So if they don't make their target and I assume go to Abu Dhabi - then you don't pay.

http://www.crowdcube.com/caterham/

Edited by woof on Friday 7th November 16:38

[woof]

When I went into Caterham F1 to consult for them (or Lotus as it was then) I suggested giving the opportunity for anyone or SMEs to become a supporter/sponsor. It was pretty much laughed out so it's a little amusing that it's being used now.

Personally I think it was and is a great idea. Making F1 that little bit more accessible.

[Jasandjules]

Kind of tragic to ask the fans when Bernie or CVC could pay that easily.

[woof]

Jasandjules said:

Kind of tragic to ask the fans when Bernie or CVC could pay that easily.

I think it's bloody short sighted that Bernie, the FIA and the rest of teams let this happen to Caterham & Marussia.

There's all this talk of the F1 family but doesn't really work that way

[anonymous-user]

Jasandjules said:

Kind of tragic to ask the fans when Bernie or CVC could pay that easily.

Hit it on the head!

All the billions washing in and out of F1 and a team asks its fans to pledge cash on the internet. It is degrading. For both Caterham and what's supposed to be a world class sport/business.

Everyone's entitled to their view but they'll get nothing from me.

[mollytherocker]

So the fans should cough up?

fking unbelievable!

[egomeister]

It's just an elaborate way to shift some old tat they no longer need. I'm surprised that so many people have committed money to this already.

[suffolk009]

I expect it's a move by the administrators to shame Bernie/CVC/everyone who makes a decision in F1 into action.

I'd be inclined to shame the whole diabolical way the business is run into letting Caterham through the field to win the race, score some points and earn some £££s. (solidarity like that is obviously never going to happen as the teams are by nature selfish.)

[woof]

Come on guys.

We all should put some money into this - it would be amazing to get Caterham to the grid in Abu Dhabi.
£10 - we can all afford that (well just about)

We're motorsport fans - let's support Caterham

[LivingTheDream]

It's very interesting that this is being laughed at in F1 yet Project Brabham is getting so much support.

They were on the F1 show a couple of weeks ago with the intention to aim for F1 again someday using their crowd funding model.

I do think the Caterham effort is a little short sighted as it really addresses none of the long term problems but if successful in getting them to Abu Dhabi then could be expanded further.


I rather wish Manor F1 (Marussia) had thought of it though!

[egomeister]

woof said:

Come on guys.

We all should put some money into this - it would be amazing to get Caterham to the grid in Abu Dhabi.
£10 - we can all afford that (well just about)

We're motorsport fans - let's support Caterham

To what end though? As far as I understand it a team can miss 3 races and still retain its license so how does this benefit the continued existence of the team? Old car bits and team gear could have been flogged off months ago while the team was still operating - I think the concept has a lot of merit, but now is not the time.

I'd be more concerned about the staff sitting unpaid at home, in a position where they neither have a job nor have been made redundant. Every day lost makes a viable entry for 2015 less and less likely.