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There's a part of me that thinks that we didn't get the full story on Maktoum's departure. I really doubt that someone who put in so much time and effort and money into a venture like this would up and walk away just like that. I get the feeling he was strong-armed by someone. Might be the wrong opinion, but that doesn't matter to me.

How many times have I said "uh-oh" allready about this?

Teixeira is simply the face that fronts A1GP, he may have a small stake in it, but it's nothing compared to how much RAB Asset Management have. I'm sure it's the teams + Teixeira that share the remaining 48% of the company, I think that was how it worked.

The Hedge Fund manager at RAB, one Philip Richards, spent $150Million buying the Sheik's 52% share, and lost his job as a direct result of how that, and the continued investment, has hit RAB's profits, he was basically sacked last week. A1 has now teamed up with Octagon and we all know how badly they treated Brands, had it not been for Palmer we'd have lost 4 UK tracks a few years back, so A1GP's future doesn't exactly look rosey.

Sorry to be the destroyer of dreams, but A1GP is on borrowed time, the World Economy is so fucked up because of these hedge fund manager and dreamers bringing the banks to their knees with bad investments (let's just say I have more than everyday Joe Public's experience of these idiots) that unless the Sheik comes back or Teixeira put's his hand in his pocket (unlikely) I doubt it will last the season, as soon as the new HFM at RAB see's the figures he'll pull the plug and A1GP will end up being wound up as they won't find an alternative investor in this climate.

TBK1/FL regulars will remember my predictions of economic gloom that I made about 2-3 years ago, what is happenning now is nothing compared to what's coming, this "credit crunch" is just the tip of the iceberg and a lot of problems are still being ignored or covered up by mergers and Government's bailing companies out.

I don't get it, the first car was completed quite a while ago, wasn't it? How long does it take to make 23 cars? I shouldn't take this long!?

I don't think it's got anything to do with the amount of time tbh. This is almost certainly money-related now

Ferrari was probably offered a share of A1 in return for it's partnership/investment, was the "in" thing to do around that time, Ferrari probably put a budget cap on it so things just drag along at a snails pace, unless of course there's a different motive behind it.

Whatever may be the reason but Damage is almost done Some might can say .. Ferrari is killing A1GP

Uhh,, this livery just sucks

Actually I think that's gorgeous. Just simple

Wasn't Bernie instrumental in getting the Ferrari and A1GP deal together....

2008: not a good season for top line open wheel series....
How many can we kill off in one year?

This is a very bad situation for a1gp now. I just hope by round 2 everything is running fine again...

A little bit off topic but since it really doesn't matter considering that it's not any sort of leak information I'm actually quite interested in what's the bigger problem? Well I understand the fisical deficit on US's part and that's a huge threat to US's and in that regard, to the world's economy as well in the long term, but what exactly are this lot of bigger problems you mentioned?

Yeah .. its better than Teams India's livery. And now at least we know for sure Monaco car is ready* for the first round.

IMO A1GP is facing all problems .. financial crisis - A1GP's First Season Loss over $200 Million! its doubtfully they have recovered it .. still they go for $$$ hungry deal! .. Now theystruggle to manufacture sufficient parts to start the season according to schedule.
Tags: mismanagement

Unless it's a rolling chassis. Not that I'm a cynic in any way, shape or form.

On the issue of cars being ready and not ready, I hope they'll have at least one spare as well as whatever they need to get all the cars onto the grid in the first place. How many times over the first few seasons of A1GP have we seen bizarre concoctions of borrowed parts (sometimes even from John Watson's demo car) to get a car onto the grid? More than one big accident in the sprint, and cars missed races.

Nice to see Monaco racing under its own flag. And now onto the most incredibly important issue (really) - the livery. The only real excuse to have a plain white car is if your flag matches the colour scheme, so they're ok here, but there are far too many white liveries in top level motorsport for my liking.

Even more bad news...
translated by me:



http://www.motorsport-aktuell.com/forme ... -6777.html

Especially the first answer by Weber tells everything - A1GP is in deep, deep trouble...!

They still haven't paid the Hulk?

What the fuck is this, the CCWS?

yes indeed.

Can't believe one of the most exciting series around is going to implode.

dang, that's bad. And to be honest I can understand Weber's decision