Manor (formerly Marussia)

Virgin

FIA Entry: Marussia Virgin Racing
Car 24: Timo Glock
Car 25: Jerome d’Ambrosio
Engine: Cosworth V8
Team Principal: John Booth
Technical Director: Nick Wirth
Race Engineer Car 24: Mark Hutchison
Race Engineer Car 25: Dave Greenwood

Stats as of end 2010

First Entered 2010
Races Entered 19
Race Wins 0
Pole Positions 0
Fastest Laps 0
Driver World Championships 0
Constructor World Championships 0

Manor Motorsport

When F3 team Manor Motorsport were given a place on the F1 grid in 2010 they commissioned Wirth Research to build them a car. Brawn sponsor Virgin became title sponsor and Virgin Racing was born

Virgin Racing

With Cosworth engines, Xtrac gearboxes and drivers Timo Glock and Lucas di Grassi Virgin Racing embarked on their first F1 season. The VR01 chassis was the first ever F1 designed entirely using CFD, with designer Nick Wirth believing computer simulations were sufficient to not need expensive wind tunnel testing.

Inevitably the team had reliability issues early on and they also discovered the fuel tank on the car wasn't sufficiently large enough to allow the team to complete full race distance. Wirth Research got a dispensation from the FIA to homologate a new chassis and by Spain both cars finished the race.

The team regularly finished races but barely troubled the mid-field. By seasons end the team were placed 12th and last in the Constructors Championship based on a count back of minor placing’s having managed a highest finish of 14th.

2011

Russian carmaker Marussia have taken a controlling interest in the team for 2011 and Belgian Jerome d’Ambrosio replaces Lucas di Grassi. With the VR02 chassis Virgin will be hoping to move further up the grid in 2011.

 

[siffert_fan]

Last year's car was barely competitive, imagine what a boat anchor it would be this year, assuming they could even make it to a grid. Plus, considering how many suppliers got stiffed, how will they induce anyone new to provide them with anything, unless it is on a cash-in-advance deal?

 

[RasputinLives]

How much prize money are they due?

 

[Bill Boddy]

Not as much as they owe in debts.

 

[siffert_fan]

If they would be "under new ownership", would they have any claim to prize money earned by the "old" team?

 

[Bill Boddy]

Morally, yes. And we all know how moral F1 is....

 

[cider_and_toast]

It's a tricky one because in the past, several teams have gone into new ownership and then the new owners have been refused access to the old teams benefits because, while they have purchased the equipment they have not purchased that teams "entry" into the sport. The sale of Colloni and Forti spring to mind here.

If they were asked to submit the entrance bond to FOM then they would be deemed a new owner and not entitled to Marussia's previous payments. It all comes down to what Bernie says.

 

[siffert_fan]

And we all know how Bernie likes to hang onto any money that he can!

 

[FB]

Sauber had to retain the BMW name to get their prize money after BMW pulled out in 2009. We had the stupidity of a team called BMW Sauber Ferrari.

 

[RasputinLives]

I'm just thinking if an investor knows that they will recieve funds that at least clears some of the debts it makes them a more attractive prospect than Caterham who, on the face of it seemed more likely to be saved.

I really hope Marussia are saved as they are a plucky little team but, with the fact they'll have no new car and will be pootling around at the back if they are saved, the likelyhood is they'll be back in the exact same position within 12 months anyways.

 

[Tuscan1969]

Much as I like the underdog story I can't see this ending well whichever scenario we are talking about...big shame.

 

[F1Yorkshire]

Scarbs seems to think it's Haas that will be pulling the strings at Marussia. Makes sense to start with some infrastructure or will that mean Haas is doomed to fail before they even begin.

Craig Scarborough ‏@ScarbsF1 5 minutes ago
Optimistic talk around Marussia, Haas recruits ex Marussia staff, may be Haas will run the 014 cars for a year ahead of a full 016 entry?

 

[F1Yorkshire]

According to Autosport Haas has bought the Marussia facilties. Not the race team though.

 

[The Artist.....]

F1Yorkshire

I've heard mooted that Marussia will be turned into a Ferrari junior F1 team.....

 

[RasputinLives]

The Artist..... that might link in with the fact that Rafel Marchiello has not confirmed he'll be in GP2 next year.

Will it change its name to Fiat Punto F1?

 

[siffert_fan]

If they will be the official Ferrari Junior team, they should be named Dino F1.

 

[cider_and_toast]

How F1 that someone can purchase all of the bits and bobs that made up a team including the cars, tools, building, car park etc etc etc and yet not own the team while another company can come a long and buy a "Bernie golden ticket" and race as Marussia in F1.

 

[Mephistopheles]

Yeah but what about my main man Chilton? has anyone considered his plight.........

No,,,,,,,, you bunch of bastards......

 

[Greenlantern101]

Bernie has stepped in to save them.

That's them fucked then.

http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/1...survive-and-has-met-with-a-potential-investor

 

[RasputinLives]

Basically then Bernie has met someone who he thinks will pump money into the sport and in order to wangle them in quickly he is organising them to buy Marussia's 'golden ticket' so they don't have to go through the application process. As everything else in the team now belongs to Haas it is just basically a name and some old cars so how it will be judged to be the same team I have no idea.

 

[cider_and_toast]

I think the answer lies in the fact that he (Bernie) doesn't think Caterham will be back. Given that they haven't auctioned off their infrastructure yet then this is the likely scenario...

Haas has bought up all of the old Marussia kit. This will form the basis of his team. This new investor will purchase the Marussia name and golden ticket and will then look for a base of operations which is somewhere near ready to go. Now where can he find a fully staffed team, looking for a buyer that has all the kit and team base, that doesn't get any FIA / FOM money next year and therefore is a less attractive proposition for any perspective buyer than Marussia??

Erm.. Caterham.

You heard it here first.