Stefan GP progress

Klon · Post by **Klon** » 24 Feb 2010, 19:07

rffp wrote:BTW, Ralf is out of the picture.
I just read that he will be a commentator for 2010. Anyone knows for what station he will be commenting?

I demand a source for this outrageous rumour.

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 24 Feb 2010, 22:26

CarlosFerreira wrote:
fjackdaw wrote:This story makes no sense, does it?

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/24022010/23/sauber-absence-hints-stefan-slot.html

I think it makes sense. It's a good idea to substitute the team with a structure, contracts with suppliers (including Ferrari engines, unlike the lesser Cossie-powered newbies), a structure, buildings, proven record, Peter Sauber and contracts for 2 drivers, plus BMW's implicit backing and a car which has rolled and demonstrated performance for the Serbian guy who rent a bit of TTE's old facilities. Bernie and Jean would love that. Serious.

Sauber are on the grid. You cannot attend test sessions without an invite, and you cannot get an invite without having a grid entry.

Stefangp · Post by **Stefangp** » 24 Feb 2010, 22:45

http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/9494.html

Mr. Stefanoivc expects...the stories are buliding up.

Something interesting I read here http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/ is James' suggestion that if Mike (Mr. Photocopy 2007) Coughlan is working for Stefan GP, then both McLaren and Ferrari will block Stefan GP's entry onto the 2010 grid.

Myself, writing a blog about the exploits of the Serbian team, do feel a little uncomfortable when I see the smiling face of 2007 spy-scandal.

Fitch · Post by **Fitch** » 25 Feb 2010, 02:54

Bob Varsha brought up an interesting point on SpeedTV Sunday night.......

The FIA can't give an entry spot to StefanGP, without first consulting Prodrive, Lola, etc, etc....Those teams who were granted alternate spots. If they were to do so, those teams could, and most likely would, sue the FIA.....

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 25 Feb 2010, 04:51

Fitch wrote:The FIA can't give an entry spot to StefanGP, without first consulting Prodrive, Lola, etc, etc....Those teams who were granted alternate spots. If they were to do so, those teams could, and most likely would, sue the FIA.....

Varsha is overlooking two key points:

1) None of those teams raised objections to Lotus being fast-tracked into the championship.

2) Stefan GP are the only team to have a car. Prodrive, Lola and so on ended their F1 projects months ago.

coops · Post by **coops** » 25 Feb 2010, 08:24

rffp wrote:BTW, Ralf is out of the picture.
I just read that he will be a commentator for 2010.

I hope its not for a pay-per-view channel, you'd ask for a refund on that one,

"The F1 commentary started off great and I was expecting great things but as the race went on Mr Schumacher seemed to speak less and less until it was as if he was no longer watching the race"

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 25 Feb 2010, 10:42

rffp wrote:BTW, Ralf is out of the picture.
I just read that he will be a commentator for 2010.

Hmm... I wonder how long it'll take before he has a go at Michael or about half the grid for that matter :lol:

And now for some reason I'm thanking HWNSNBM that we get the Beeb international feed :twisted:

Anyways back on topic and am I correct in saying that Toyota left abit of dough for Stefan when they bailed out and if so how much?

Klon · Post by **Klon** » 25 Feb 2010, 10:50

I have done some research on the topic of Ralf Schumacher, and this is the result: Mercedes, his DTM marquee, has announced Ralf Schumacher for "expert commentary" for Mercedes' guests in Bahrain - this only qualifies of course, if he is still a Mercedes employee at that time. Therefore, he is not necessarily out of the running, but now the likelyness of him getting a cockpit has fallen below my imaginary 10-%-border. Well, I guess it's for the better, we still don't know if Stefan GP is up to anything good and he still has unfinished buisness with DTM. And Villeneuve is not a disappointing alternative...

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 25 Feb 2010, 11:50

Captain Hammer wrote:
CarlosFerreira wrote:
fjackdaw wrote:This story makes no sense, does it?

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/24022010/23/sauber-absence-hints-stefan-slot.html

I think it makes sense. It's a good idea to substitute the team with a structure, contracts with suppliers (including Ferrari engines, unlike the lesser Cossie-powered newbies), a structure, buildings, proven record, Peter Sauber and contracts for 2 drivers, plus BMW's implicit backing and a car which has rolled and demonstrated performance for the Serbian guy who rent a bit of TTE's old facilities. Bernie and Jean would love that. Serious.

Sauber are on the grid. You cannot attend test sessions without an invite, and you cannot get an invite without having a grid entry.

What my post needs, Captain, is a bit of html code. I should have added <ironic></ironic> to my ramble, and save of both from this slight mishap.

thehemogoblin · Post by **thehemogoblin** » 25 Feb 2010, 18:44

CarlosFerreira wrote:
Captain Hammer wrote:
CarlosFerreira wrote:I think it makes sense. It's a good idea to substitute the team with a structure, contracts with suppliers (including Ferrari engines, unlike the lesser Cossie-powered newbies), a structure, buildings, proven record, Peter Sauber and contracts for 2 drivers, plus BMW's implicit backing and a car which has rolled and demonstrated performance for the Serbian guy who rent a bit of TTE's old facilities. Bernie and Jean would love that. Serious.

Sauber are on the grid. You cannot attend test sessions without an invite, and you cannot get an invite without having a grid entry.

What my post needs, Captain, is a bit of html code. I should have added <ironic></ironic> to my ramble, and save of both from this slight mishap.

You're having an off week.

Fitch · Post by **Fitch** » 26 Feb 2010, 03:04

One thing Being SERIOUSLY Overlooked about StefanGP..........

They have a car or rather they have A car.....ONE CAR............They have the parts to build a second car, but to be able to throw it together and get it to Bahrain for the race would be next to impossible and take a miracle. Plus, should they be able to pull off such a miracle, they would have no spares, NONE at ALL.....So when Kazuki throws it into the tire barrier in first practice they're done.....

watka · Post by **watka** » 26 Feb 2010, 09:21

Fitch wrote:One thing Being SERIOUSLY Overlooked about StefanGP..........

They have a car or rather they have A car.....ONE CAR............They have the parts to build a second car, but to be able to throw it together and get it to Bahrain for the race would be next to impossible and take a miracle. Plus, should they be able to pull off such a miracle, they would have no spares, NONE at ALL.....So when Kazuki throws it into the tire barrier in first practice they're done.....

Spot on, I think they were hoping that USF1 or Campos would fold with a decent amount of time to spare before the first race so that they could get the Toyota bods working on a second car and spares. They have the facilities to build another car, but nowhere near enough time anymore.

coops · Post by **coops** » 26 Feb 2010, 10:21

All the scrabbling about trying to get a car to the grid is hardly the stuff of F1 Legend is it? F1 Reject Legend for sure but putting that to one side for now is this really what we want for F1?

Stefangp · Post by **Stefangp** » 26 Feb 2010, 11:27

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8536567.stm

Quote:

"Sources have told BBC Sport that hopefuls Stefan Grand Prix will almost certainly be given the slot vacated by US F1."

Who these sources are, we don't know due to the British media's insistence of hiding behind the confidentiality of the leaks.

"Time is running out/ Let's Roll." Neil Young

Jordan · Post by **Jordan** » 26 Feb 2010, 12:28

watka wrote:
Fitch wrote:One thing Being SERIOUSLY Overlooked about StefanGP..........

They have a car or rather they have A car.....ONE CAR............They have the parts to build a second car, but to be able to throw it together and get it to Bahrain for the race would be next to impossible and take a miracle. Plus, should they be able to pull off such a miracle, they would have no spares, NONE at ALL.....So when Kazuki throws it into the tire barrier in first practice they're done.....

Spot on, I think they were hoping that USF1 or Campos would fold with a decent amount of time to spare before the first race so that they could get the Toyota bods working on a second car and spares. They have the facilities to build another car, but nowhere near enough time anymore.

There's always the NASCAR alternative, just patch it up with some "200 MPH" (duct) tape

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 26 Feb 2010, 13:34

CarlosFerreira wrote:What my post needs, Captain, is a bit of html code. I should have added <ironic></ironic> to my ramble, and save of both from this slight mishap.

Actually, I was aiming at fjackdaw and missed removing your stuff.

Fitch wrote:One thing Being SERIOUSLY Overlooked about StefanGP..........

They have a car or rather they have A car.....ONE CAR............They have the parts to build a second car, but to be able to throw it together and get it to Bahrain for the race would be next to impossible and take a miracle. Plus, hould they be able to pull off such a miracle, they would have no spares, NONE at ALL.....So when Kazuki throws it into the tire barrier in first practice they're done.....

Yes, they have one car, which is more than USF1 has.

Jordan192 · Post by **Jordan192** » 26 Feb 2010, 14:20

Captain Hammer wrote:Actually, I was aiming at fjackdaw and missed removing your stuff.

What were you trying to say to fjackdaw, then? I thought his point was just that the article was disjointed rambling nonsense, and not a comment on its (daft) conclusions on Sauber's grid status, SGP's inablilty to test or the 'The Dog Ate my Homework' teams.

Ross Prawn · Post by **Ross Prawn** » 26 Feb 2010, 14:34

Stefangp wrote:http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8536567.stm

Quote:

"Sources have told BBC Sport that hopefuls Stefan Grand Prix will almost certainly be given the slot vacated by US F1."

Who these sources are, we don't know due to the British media's insistence of hiding behind the confidentiality of the leaks.

"Time is running out/ Let's Roll." Neil Young

There's more to the picture than meets the eye

Waris · Post by **Waris** » 27 Feb 2010, 22:19

coops wrote:All the scrabbling about trying to get a car to the grid is hardly the stuff of F1 Legend is it? F1 Reject Legend for sure but putting that to one side for now is this really what we want for F1?

Yes.

Also, apparently Stefanovic has said that the second car will be ready on Wednesday.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 28 Feb 2010, 14:56

Waris wrote:
coops wrote:All the scrabbling about trying to get a car to the grid is hardly the stuff of F1 Legend is it? F1 Reject Legend for sure but putting that to one side for now is this really what we want for F1?

Yes.

Also, apparently Stefanovic has said that the second car will be ready on Wednesday.

Isn't Wednesday the day all the cars and equipment gets shipped by Bernie's transport to Bahrain?

Jordan · Post by **Jordan** » 28 Feb 2010, 16:30

But I thought Stefan already had their equipment in Bahrain? Would they be assembling said car and shipping only the car as everything else is already there? Can they assemble said car *in* Bahrain? In a back alley somewhere?

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 28 Feb 2010, 16:36

Jordan wrote:But I thought Stefan already had their equipment in Bahrain? Would they be assembling said car and shipping only the car as everything else is already there? Can they assemble said car *in* Bahrain? In a back alley somewhere?

If there is indeed a Stefan-sent box in Bahrain, it probably contains socks. Maybe a new box will contain the pairs?

Post by **mario** » 28 Feb 2010, 17:11

Jordan wrote:But I thought Stefan already had their equipment in Bahrain? Would they be assembling said car and shipping only the car as everything else is already there? Can they assemble said car *in* Bahrain? In a back alley somewhere?

Stefan GP claims to have sent equipment to Bahrein (and also claims to have made preparations to ship equipment to the next few races as well). Then again, just because he has sent equipment there, it doesn't mean that it'll actually be allowed into the paddock area. After all, Super Aguri turned up with equipment for what they hoped to be their last race, only for FOM to turn them away at the circuit.
Besides, the normal practise is for the teams to take their equipment and parts to the circuit a couple of days before the first practise session, and then build the cars at the circuit. That way, the FIA can request parts from the teams for random scruitineering before an event (as a random example, the rear wing from Sauber, or an engine from Renault) and test them during the free practise sessions (on top of the other random inspections that occur during the race weekend itself).

Jordan · Post by **Jordan** » 28 Feb 2010, 17:21

CarlosFerreira wrote:
Jordan wrote:But I thought Stefan already had their equipment in Bahrain? Would they be assembling said car and shipping only the car as everything else is already there? Can they assemble said car *in* Bahrain? In a back alley somewhere?

If there is indeed a Stefan-sent box in Bahrain, it probably contains socks. Maybe a new box will contain the pairs?

I wouldn't mind a pair of mismatched Stefan GP socks, it's kind of fitting, really.

Post by **mario** » 28 Feb 2010, 20:11

CarlosFerreira wrote:
Jordan wrote:But I thought Stefan already had their equipment in Bahrain? Would they be assembling said car and shipping only the car as everything else is already there? Can they assemble said car *in* Bahrain? In a back alley somewhere?

If there is indeed a Stefan-sent box in Bahrain, it probably contains socks. Maybe a new box will contain the pairs?

Looks like you are right to be dubious after all, if this particular article is right. http://willthef1journo.wordpress.com/20 ... n-bahrain/
According to this journalist, the freight which Stefan claimes to have sent to Bahrein has, according to the circuit owners, not turned up at the circuit, with some suggesting that Stefan may not have sent anything at all. However, even if we were to assume that the freight is still stuck with the customs authorities, it seems that the FIA has already made it explicitely clear to the circuit owners that Stefan GP “will not be racing in Bahrain”, and will bar Stefan and his team from the circuit.
So, it looks like it is game over for Stefan, assuming that he had a car to drive in the first place - USF1 have seemingly rejected his offers, and the FIA are making it clear that they will not tolerate any attempt to go behind their backs.

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 28 Feb 2010, 20:33

mario wrote:Looks like you are right to be dubious after all, if this particular article is right. http://willthef1journo.wordpress.com/20 ... n-bahrain/
According to this journalist, the freight which Stefan claimes to have sent to Bahrein has, according to the circuit owners, not turned up at the circuit, with some suggesting that Stefan may not have sent anything at all. However, even if we were to assume that the freight is still stuck with the customs authorities, it seems that the FIA has already made it explicitely clear to the circuit owners that Stefan GP “will not be racing in Bahrain”, and will bar Stefan and his team from the circuit.
So, it looks like it is game over for Stefan, assuming that he had a car to drive in the first place - USF1 have seemingly rejected his offers, and the FIA are making it clear that they will not tolerate any attempt to go behind their backs.

I may yet bite my own tongue, of course; but I honestly never thought StefanGP was in any way a race outfit. All you see is a balding chap wearing a jumper, of a pic of a few people around a table, or a Toyota-painted car. My biggest doubt is how does TTE allow this to go on? Their name is on the line here as well, and people are actually saying that Toyota is supporting Stefan, which does not sound the slightest bit true.

rffp · Post by **rffp** » 01 Mar 2010, 13:02

A Brazilian journalist published saturday (Feb.27) in his blog (http://blog-do-ico.blogspot.com/) the following story:

Stefan GP has sent spare parts to Bahrein, but the Toyota purchased car remains in Cologne since the Serb team wannabe has not yet paid Toyota! Stefanovic has agreed to only pay the Japanese if he is granted a slot in the F-1 grid, which makes me wonder if the whole Portimão test was nothing but a charade.

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 01 Mar 2010, 13:52

rffp wrote:A Brazilian journalist published saturday (Feb.27) in his blog (http://blog-do-ico.blogspot.com/) the following story:

Stefan GP has sent spare parts to Bahrein, but the Toyota purchased car remains in Cologne since the Serb team wannabe has not yet paid Toyota! Stefanovic has agreed to only pay the Japanese if he is granted a slot in the F-1 grid, which makes me wonder if the whole Portimão test was nothing but a charade.

Getting warmer now...

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 01 Mar 2010, 21:41

rffp wrote:A Brazilian journalist published saturday (Feb.27) in his blog (http://blog-do-ico.blogspot.com/) the following story:

Stefan GP has sent spare parts to Bahrein, but the Toyota purchased car remains in Cologne since the Serb team wannabe has not yet paid Toyota! Stefanovic has agreed to only pay the Japanese if he is granted a slot in the F-1 grid, which makes me wonder if the whole Portimão test was nothing but a charade.

There's no reasonto believe Portimao was a charade. Not paying until he gets an entry makes a lot of sense; only an idiot (read: USF1) would do otherwise.

Warren Hughes · Post by **Warren Hughes** » 01 Mar 2010, 23:36

Eddie Jordan reckons Stefan will get in...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsp ... 544246.stm

Not sure he really knows what he's talking about, mind you.

Jynister · Post by **Jynister** » 02 Mar 2010, 00:10

I used to doubt Eddie, and I remember him saying Schumacher will return to F1 and at the time I thought he was just being a crazy old man. But he was right.

Jordan · Post by **Jordan** » 02 Mar 2010, 00:28

Eddie Jordan does, from time to time, seem to have a rather prophetic quality

Waris · Post by **Waris** » 04 Mar 2010, 01:25

Well, it looks like Eddie Jordan was - for the moment - wrong, but I fully expect Zoran Stefanovic to not be let down at all by this bad news and push on with his outfit, in his trademark cheerful fighting spirit, to be on the grid in 2011, presumably supported by Toyota, with the car they have now modified to fit whatever ungodly regulation changes they think up for 2-- oh wait, Jean Todt's the president of the FIA now, so I guess we won't see horrible regulation changes like that anymore. ^_^

karsten · Post by **karsten** » 04 Mar 2010, 07:58

I'm tne only one thinking that if SGP doesn't enter this year they'll have 00% chanches in 2011?

ADx_Wales · Post by **ADx_Wales** » 04 Mar 2010, 08:27

I'm the only one who thinks that their attempts are all for nothing because they didn't put their name down in the first place, even when Prost fell by the wayside Phoenix/DART's attempts to get in reeked of exactly the same issues.

Yannick · Post by **Yannick** » 04 Mar 2010, 09:16

It's looking grim at the moment for Stefan GP as they are not on the current entry list, but how could they, given the fact that this list was published only to remove USF1. I'd say they are not lost yet, whilst the FIA is checking their business.

To be honest, if they don't make it in this year, I don't expect them to try next year running one year old Toyotas.

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 04 Mar 2010, 10:33

karsten wrote:I'm tne only one thinking that if SGP doesn't enter this year they'll have 00% chanches in 2011?

Nope, I agree with that.

Tealy · Post by **Tealy** » 04 Mar 2010, 14:29

Yannick wrote:It's looking grim at the moment for Stefan GP as they are not on the current entry list, but how could they, given the fact that this list was published only to remove USF1. I'd say they are not lost yet, whilst the FIA is checking their business.

To be honest, if they don't make it in this year, I don't expect them to try next year running one year old Toyotas.

Well the list also included Sauber when the last one didn't. It also shows Campos' name change so I think it's all over for Stefan GP if his aim really was to make the grid. Hopefully I'll be proved wrong though

Jordan · Post by **Jordan** » 05 Mar 2010, 12:51

http://www.totalf1.com/full_story/view/332472/Stefan_GP_finances_unveiled/

Now, call me crazy, but i'm sure i'd seen some people standing up in this forum, long ago, and make bold claims that Stefan wasn't what it appeared. Well...guess you're right :lol:

Now, with that being said, they *did* appear to have a car, at least one driver, and were on the verge of signing another. So they seemed pretty legit for an illegitimate team

Post by **mario** » 05 Mar 2010, 12:58

Apologies for bringing this up again, but it looks as if Stefan might actually be a much more questionable character then first appears, looking at this article over at F1Technical: http://www.f1technical.net/news/14333
For all Stefan's bold claims, it appears that his "military technology" company is in fact nothing more then a shell company. Somebody has gone through the Serbian company registry, where all the details about the company are registered. The company, a limited liability firm, was founded with the grand sum of €500 as it's starting capital on the 14th March 2008. Revenues for 2009 are recorded as being €3,315, yielding a net profit of €42.70.
Looks like Stefan might have pulled a Qadbak on Toyota - the difference being that at least he got something out of Toyota (even if it is just spare parts). And it's no wonder that the FIA is refusing to allow Stefan GP to attend any races...