Author Topic: Honda poised to quit Formula One (Read 9046 times)

UmroAyyar · « **on:** December 04, 2008, 04:30:25 pm »

Honda will quit Formula One on Friday, BBC Sport understands.
The Japanese car manufacturer is set to announce that it is selling its team, with a view to closing the team down by the end of March if no buyer is found.

Sources told BBC Sport the team were "optimistic" they would continue, but no investor had yet been found.

However, according to the Reuters news agency, team bosses Ross Brawn and Nick Fry fear Honda could close the team within weeks.

According to a Reuters source, Brawn and Fry told a meeting of the Formula One Teams' Association: "They have a month to find a buyer, otherwise they are closing the team."

Honda, who recently cut road vehicle production as a response to the global economic crisis, are expected to make an announcement regarding the team's future at 0500 GMT on Friday.

The Japanese giant's F1 team endured a deeply disappointing 2008 season on the track, earning just 14 points, leaving them the lowest of the nine points-scoring teams.

In turn Britain's Jenson Button, who drives for Honda, found himself ranked 18th in the drivers' list, contributing only three points.

Only four drivers, each without a point to their name, ranked below him. Team-mate Rubens Barrichello earned the remaining 11 points.

Honda initially entered F1 as a constructor in the 1960s, withdrawing at the end of 1968.

The company returned to F1 in the 1980s as an engine supplier, then purchased a stake in the BAR team from British American Tobacco in 2004.

Honda bought out British American Tobacco in 2005 to form the Honda team for the 2006 season.

While the team finished fourth in the 2006 constructors' championship, they have since struggled to make an impact.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7766092.stm

ovr50 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 04, 2008, 04:33:42 pm »

IMO, Ecclestone (sic) is/will price F1 racing out of existance. Much the same as the France family is currently doing financially/rules-wise to NASCAR. Be prepared to see major companies drop their sponsorships/underwriting of racing; and the Detroit 3 to pull their mfgers support.

safristi · « **Reply #2 on:** December 04, 2008, 04:41:22 pm »

Jenson better BUTTON up his FLY BOYS......................or CRAZY DAVE FOOLHARDT will be in fer tha KILT.............................Och aye tha Nooo..................just baiting Max & Eckie ....seeing who will be the first to "BITE"............Partee on dipweeds................I see Paris /Dubai I see FRANCE i see Max in his underpants.............leading the whole mess ta HELL........

Winklovic · « **Reply #3 on:** December 04, 2008, 04:56:42 pm »

It might be time for TSN to abandon F1 broadcasting and show the Australian V8 Supercar Series.

safristi · « **Reply #4 on:** December 04, 2008, 05:00:02 pm »

...OR Re runs of OZ prison Moofies.........................

DoubleClutch · « **Reply #5 on:** December 04, 2008, 05:24:28 pm »

With money as tight as it is these days (for Honda and most others) it seems like a good time to get out. With the way F1 is headed it doesn't bother me at all.

rrocket · « **Reply #6 on:** December 04, 2008, 05:30:18 pm »

Quote from: Winklovic on December 04, 2008, 04:56:42 pm

It might be time for TSN to abandon F1 broadcasting and show the Australian V8 Supercar Series.

No way.....I'd rather watch WRC !!!

Wolfe · « **Reply #7 on:** December 04, 2008, 06:21:15 pm »

Quote from: rrocket on December 04, 2008, 05:30:18 pm

Quote from: Winklovic on December 04, 2008, 04:56:42 pm
It might be time for TSN to abandon F1 broadcasting and show the Australian V8 Supercar Series.

No way.....I'd rather watch WRC !!!

They should dump both F1 and NASCAR and replace them with the Aussie V8s, WRC and motorcycle racing, maybe even throw in a few Spec Miata or Spec E30 races. That would be awesome, won't ever happen, but awesome nonetheless.

rrocket · « **Reply #8 on:** December 04, 2008, 06:24:27 pm »

Japan's SuperGT series is also fantastic...one of the best IMO. I prefer it over Australian V8 series, and quite a few others.....

Turbo Bob · « **Reply #9 on:** December 04, 2008, 11:36:24 pm »

Quote from: rrocket on December 04, 2008, 05:30:18 pm

Quote from: Winklovic on December 04, 2008, 04:56:42 pm
It might be time for TSN to abandon F1 broadcasting and show the Australian V8 Supercar Series.

No way.....I'd rather watch WRC !!!

I second that motion!

rrocket · « **Reply #10 on:** December 04, 2008, 11:47:58 pm »

Bob..have you watched SuperGT?? The crowd went insane when Subaru finally won in the GT300 class!! Was awesome!!

ovr50 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 05, 2008, 12:22:16 am »

Quote from: rrocket on December 04, 2008, 11:47:58 pm

Bob..have you watched SuperGT?? The crowd went insane when Subaru finally won in the GT300 class!! Was awesome!!

Wow, that's one amazing Subie..!! Amazing what the addition of some body panels and BIG meats does for the car.

rrocket · « **Reply #12 on:** December 05, 2008, 12:48:46 am »

^^^^Yea...it's a great series with amazing cars!

There are 2 classes. The GT500 class (500 horsepower) and the GT300 class (300 horsepower). You'll see Ferraris, Lambos, Moslers, Subies, GT-R, Supras, SC430s, NSX, Vette, Vipers, RX8s, Porsche, MR2s, Boxsters, Very close racing...If you want more info, visit http://supergt.net/en/

And this car's for you! It's BMWs bad-ass Z4 by Studie GLAD BMW. It has sported several different anime-type paint jobs. Very cool car.......

Turbo Bob · « **Reply #13 on:** December 05, 2008, 01:36:12 am »

Quote from: rrocket on December 04, 2008, 11:47:58 pm

Bob..have you watched SuperGT?? The crowd went insane when Subaru finally won in the GT300 class!! Was awesome!!

I've seen a little, I love watching the GT racing from the UK. GT and WRC are the best type of racing IMHO, cars you can relate to.

Jameel · « **Reply #14 on:** December 05, 2008, 10:34:23 am »

Yah I just read that Honda is pulling from F1. Wow if a company like Honda is pulling out because of financial reasons, what's going to happen to the smaller teams?

Wow this was a real shocker to me. And safristi I don’t want to hear anything about me and “the shocker”. :-)

Come on guys, F1 can’t be dropped.

Yah the Japanese Series is pretty cool, they use to show bits and pieces of it on Speed a long time ago.

tpl · « **Reply #15 on:** December 05, 2008, 02:23:32 pm »

Honda boss upbeat over team sale

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7766651.stm

Honda Racing boss Nick Fry says three potential buyers for the Formula One team have emerged since the Japanese company said they were pulling out.

Honda revealed on Friday that they were quitting for financial reasons.

"In the last 12 hours we've had three serious people come and suggest they'd like to buy the team," he told the BBC.

I hope somebody does buy it and run in 2009

Winklovic · « **Reply #16 on:** December 05, 2008, 05:19:30 pm »

Quote from: tpl on December 05, 2008, 02:23:32 pm

"In the last 12 hours we've had three serious people come and suggest they'd like to buy the team," he told the BBC.

That all but confirms that Saffi isn't one of the buyers.

safristi · « **Reply #17 on:** December 05, 2008, 07:07:11 pm »

FEE! F1 FO FUM.............................FU

ovr50 · « **Reply #18 on:** December 05, 2008, 07:30:47 pm »

http://www.baileycar.com/tip_of_the_iceberg.html

From Phil Bailey's site.

kevlar · « **Reply #19 on:** December 06, 2008, 12:54:46 am »

there are a multitude of reasons honda is leaving. credit crunch, lack of involvement of honda's own engineers in car development, consistently poor results, being left out of the f1 profits and decision making process by bernie and max. don't be surprised if toyota follows suit soon.