The five car manufacturers that owned Formula One teams last year needed to sell over 25,000 cars to break even on their investment in the sport, according to new research
Ferrari, Mercedes, BMW, Renault and Toyota spent a total of €608m (£539m) on F1, but in the year to date they sold 1.7m fewer vehicles than in 2008, leading to the latter three car manufacturers cutting their involvement in the sport.
F1’s industry monitor Formula Money calculated the number of cars the manufacturers needed to sell in order to cover their cost of competing … Details
www.stokednews.com
This season, the Lotus name will make an historic return to Formula 1. Unsurprisingly, the efforts of the Malaysian-backed team have attracted huge interest as it bids to not only emerge as best of the new outfits, but also take on some established names.
At the center of the push behind Lotus is team principal Tony Fernandes – the flamboyant entrepreneur who juggles his time between his AirAsia business, the music industry and now F1. Here, he discusses how progress is going, his vision for the future of the sport and why only a night race at Silverstone will prove to him that F1 has become truly global … Details
www.stokednews.com
[ad#cor1]
Robby Gordon finished sixth in the first stage of the Dakar Rally on Saturday, and trails overall leader Nani Roma by 4 minutes, 48 seconds.
Roma finished 2:07 ahead of Spanish countryman Carlos Sainz, and 2:50 in front of teammate Stephane Peterhansel. Giniel De Villiers, the 2009 champion, was 4:31 off the lead … Details
www.stokednews.com
[ad#cor1]
Nani Roma won the first stage of the Dakar Rally in a BMW and David Casteu of France led home the bikes on a Saturday marred by the first death of a fan in four years.
Roma finished the shortened stage from Colon to Cordoba 2 minutes, 7 seconds ahead of Spanish countryman Carlos Sainz in a Volkswagen, and 2:50 in front of BMW teammate Stephane Peterhansel. Giniel De Villiers of South Africa, the 2009 champion, was 4:31 off the lead in a Volkswagen.
“It’s only just the start,†Roma said .. Details
www.stokednews.com