On customer cars and B teams

Imhotep Evil · **On customer cars and B teams -** 04-24-2007, 08:31 AM

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`Customer cars are the future`
Tuesday 24th April 2007

Formula One teams will be allowed to use customer cars as of next season, according to FIA President Max Mosley.

The use of customer cars is currently at the center of a battle between Spyker and their rivals, Super Aguri and Toro Rosso.

According to Spyker, both teams are running cars designed by parties other than themselves and are therefore illegal.

But as to what Mosley thinks of the matter, the FIA President wouldn't be drawn.

"There is a dispute there about what the Concorde Agreement means," he said.

"And fortunately there is a clause in the Agreement that sends disputes like that to arbitration. So if they cannot agree then they go to arbitration.

"It is not directly our problem. It is just two completely different views of what the Agreement says."

As of next year, though, this won't be an issue as Mosley says the new regulations will allow teams to run customer cars.

"At the moment the rules for 2008 completely allow them," he told Autosport, referring to customer cars.

"They (the regulations) make a distinction between the constructor and the make - and of course the points go to the make and not the constructor.

"Very few people have looked at the rules yet, but they will."

And Mosley is certain that when they do, some teams will object. "We live in a democracy so we will see what everyone else wants to do," he continued.

"But for me I cannot see any way of having a 12-team competitive grid with 24 good cars, and giving even the drivers in the small team a chance."

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Dennis in favour of McLaren `B` team
Tuesday 24th April 2007

Ron Dennis feels there are "more pluses than minuses" to McLaren running a 'B' team for next season, despite his long-held belief Formula One should be "pure."

Dennis has always maintained the view a constructor builds, runs and maintains their own team, as McLaren have successfully done over the years.

However, a change in the FIA regulations for 2008 onwards is due to come into force allowing current constructors to run a 'B' team or supply chassis to other teams.

It is a possibility McLaren team principal Dennis may pursue as he said: "Along with our colleagues at Mercedes-Benz, of course we'll seriously consider it.

"It's not just about revenue. Doing it well would be challenging and would require extra resource, and the company would have to be properly compensated for it.

"The revenue stream would also allow for greater investment in car development and so on.

"So, overall, you'd have to say there are more pluses than minuses."

McLaren has been linked with Dave Richards' Prodrive organisation who are due to enter Formula One next year.

Speaking to F1-Racing magazine, Dennis insists that although talks have taken place, no deal has yet been done.

"The only conversation I've had with David has been about the possibility of McLaren Marketing supporting him in his efforts to fund Prodrive's F1 programme," added Dennis.

"I'd never rule out having a partnership with another F1 team, but it would be somewhat premature to say it will be Prodrive."

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