Wednesday 15th November 2006

Will Aston race again in F1?

Rumours swirl as Prodrive keeps schtumm

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Aston Martin DBR4

Could Aston Martin be aiming to compete in F1 racing for the first time since 1961?

That's one conclusion to be drawn from the boss of racing engineering specialist Prodrive Dave Richards' tight-lipped stance about the banner under which he'll be racing in 2008. A Prodrive spokesperson said: "We are continuing discussions with potential partners but we are not in a position to divulge the exact nature of these discussions, nor the parties involved."

Prodrive's intention to get into F1 was first announced in December 2005, but Prodrive has also said that it won't be racing under its own name.

However it does have a relationship with Aston Martin -- Prodrive implemented AM's racing programme for it -- and with Aston Martin out of Ford's shadow since Ford's entry into F1 using the Jaguar banner was not a happy event, this could give the iconic firm the freedom to compete in the world's most prestigious racing series.

What about a motor? We hear that Aston Martin could even link up with Cosworth to re-badge its now-unused V8 engine.

We'll be keeping a close eye on this one. While you can be sure that a modern Aston Martin F1 car won't be using the company's VH aluminium chassis architecture, or that classic grille, you can also be sure that most of the rumours swirling round F1 are totally untrue...

The last car to score any success for AM in F1 was the outclassed but beautiful DBR4 in 1959 -- see pic.

^{Picture by Wouter Melissen}

[CiderwithCerbie]

Wouldn't that be Fabulous. A British Team, A great British Marque and F1 cars built near Silverstone.

Who should drive? Davidson and Hamilton?

[FourWheelDrift]

Few additional thoughts and replies when I posted a similar thread last Monday in the Motorsports section - www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=324038&f=42&h=0

Edited by FourWheelDrift on Wednesday 15th November 12:16

[Shadytree]

No chance imo. Absolute hogwash

small part of me hopes I eat my hat

[IPAddis]

I'd rather they stuck to GT racing rather than trying again where Jaguar and Ford have failed.

Ian A.

[Craigy_97elise]

Open question:
is the costworth V10 even homologated with the FIA to run next year?

C

[peanutjb]

Craigy_97elise said:

Open question:
is the costworth V10 even homologated with the FIA to run next year?

C

Doubt it but their V8 as used by Williams should be

Peter

[Craigy_97elise]

peanutjb said:

Craigy_97elise said:

Open question:
is the costworth V10 even homologated with the FIA to run next year?

C

Doubt it but their V8 as used by Williams should be

Peter

D'oh. I Meant to say the v8!

Williams have known for a while they would be running the 'yota v8 - I am just questioning whether the cossie v8 is even in the list of permissible engines for 2008.

C

[scoobiewrx]

i was going to say if AM do get into F1 then i sincerely hope it doesn't go the same way as Jaguar.It would be great to have an all Brit F1 Team vowing for honours!!

Anyway...who knows, seeing as Prodrive are so closely linked it might be Subaru.

F1 Scooby!!

Edited by scoobiewrx on Wednesday 15th November 12:52

[mini_ralf]

scoobiewrx said:

i was going to say if AM do get into F1 then i sincerely hope it doesn't go the same way as Jaguar.It would be great to have an all Brit F1 Team vowing for honours!!

Anyway...who knows, seeing as Prodrive are so closely linked it might be Subaru.

F1 Scooby!!

Edited by scoobiewrx on Wednesday 15th November 12:52

In blue with gold coloured wheels?

Seriously though it would be nice to see a British marque back in the fray.

[ahonen]

I think it'd be bad for the brand to go up against, and be beaten by, run-of-the-mill companies like Renault, Toyota and Honda.

The F1 experiment was a disaster for Jaguar's image and I think Aston would be in a similar position.

It should stick to sportscar racing, which is a terrific (and spectacularly cheap) marketing tool.

[von stig]

yeah F1 these days is the play thing of the big boys and just a chance to show of if your a normal car marqe GT racing is where the Aston belongs imo

[astrsxi77]

Just another attempt for Ford to get into F1.
Stewart - Failed
Jaguar - Failed
Aston Martin - F.....
Wonder what the future will hold for this plan if Ford sell AML?

Perhaps Prodrive are planning to develop a Diesel "low emission" F1 car, the final nail in the F1 coffin?!

[FourWheelDrift]

astrsxi77 said:

Just another attempt for Ford to get into F1.
Stewart - Failed

I wouldn't say Stewart failed, they won a race (1st & 3rd with Herbert and Barrichello at the Nurburgring in 2000) and were successfully sold to Jaguar. I think Jackie and Paul must have been pleased with that.

[Digital]

scoobiewrx said:

F1 Scooby!!

Wouldn't be the first time, there was a Subaru engine used back in 1990 by the mighty Coloni team. Given this was well before the Legacy/Impreza had started making a name for Subaru in rallying it's not surprising that it'snot remembered - I think Subaru would probably prefer it that way

www.iwoc.co.uk/subf1.html

[williamp]

Are you sure Ford was a failure in F1? The most successful F1 engine of all time- the Cosworth DFV. Commissioned ands funded by Ford. Every one of those engines has Ford on the cam covers.

"Lotus- powered by Ford"

And its later counterparts- used up to the early 90s, and in Indy racing. Plus the GT40, plus the rallying (Ford Escort, etc), plus the touring car wins (over 200).

Its the sort of record Ferrari would be proud of.

But no, Aston should not race in F1. Where would the golf clubs go?

[cardigankid]

Not unless they need their heads examining

[D-Angle]

Aston is not the only name linked to Prodrive. Hyundai are reported to be very interested in the idea, and it has been mooted as a way for Nissan to enter the sport, as they are reported to be considering it. The theory is that the cars would use rebadged Renault engines(as they own Nissan) and operate as the Renault B team.

Unless someone else pops up from nowhere, Prodrive will most likely be badged as Hyundai or Aston when they hit the grid in 2008. And Cosworth's V8 is permitted BTW, the requirement was that the engine would need to be used up to the end of this season that has passed.

[m444ttb]

Has VW had a crack at F1 yet (or in recent years)? It could be good value for money compared to developing the Veyron :P

[scoobiewrx]

Digital said:

scoobiewrx said:

F1 Scooby!!

Wouldn't be the first time, there was a Subaru engine used back in 1990 by the mighty Coloni team. Given this was well before the Legacy/Impreza had started making a name for Subaru in rallying it's not surprising that it'snot remembered - I think Subaru would probably prefer it that way

www.iwoc.co.uk/subf1.html

Actually that was very interesting, thanks digital
So...perhaps a Scooby Flat Boxer 8...you never know

[astrsxi77]

quote=williamp]Are you sure Ford was a failure in F1? The most successful F1 engine of all time- the Cosworth DFV. Commissioned ands funded by Ford. Every one of those engines has Ford on the cam covers.

"Lotus- powered by Ford"

And its later counterparts- used up to the early 90s, and in Indy racing. Plus the GT40, plus the rallying (Ford Escort, etc), plus the touring car wins (over 200).

Its the sort of record Ferrari would be proud of.

But no, Aston should not race in F1. Where would the golf clubs go? [/quote]

The DFV; Commissioned and funded by Ford, ENGINEERED by Cosworth........Of course the marketing people made sure it said Ford on the cam-covers, what a PR opportunity!

I'm only talking about F1 here. Ford has a legendary Motorsport Pedigree in Rally, GT, Touring Cars, not to mention the US side of things.