Polites backs Prodrive push to run a Ford racing team
WITH Holden Racing Team's Mark Skaife dominating the V8 Supercar championship, Mr Polites has backed the mooted move of Prodrive to run a Ford team next year.
Headquartered in the UK, Prodrive manages Subaru's World Rally Championship team and has numerous other motorsport interests. It acquired Tickford last year, including its Australian interests.
Prodrive has been linked with the 00 Motorsport team, which was created to run former Holden star Craig Lowndes and is owned by veteran touring car entrant Bob Forbes. It is believed Prodrive is also looking at other potential avenues into the championship.
"I'd have no issue with Prodrive coming in to run a V8 Supercar team," Mr Polites said.
"If they did, I think it would be great, but they would have to make up a business model. It would be as Prodrive, it would not be as a Tickford partnership with us. It would be as Prodrive coming in on their own."
Mr Polites said Prodrive would bring the same sort of expertise to Ford's V8 Supercar campaign that TWR delivered to HRT.
"Some increased technology, increased resources, the roll-down of Formula One and rally car learnings and a much larger engineering base," he said.
"I would then want to see - if they did it - some of those learnings and benefits passed on to the other Ford teams. I perhaps have a more socialistic view of their role than others might."
Hmm interesting stuff, so this means that there still won't ba a factory backed team? I thought it would have made better sense if there was a full factory backed Ford team with major Prodrive assistance. Why won't this be a Ford/Tickford program, can't they work together???
Originally posted by RPO83 Why won't this be a Ford/Tickford program, can't they work together???
The simple answer is NO!
The more complex answer needs to delve into the respective positions of the two organisations both now and into the near future.
The cosy relationship that once existed has almost certainly had it's dynamics altered since the introduction of Pro Drive into the equation. In essence the two organisations are probably going to find themselves competing in the same market space (the Ford performance enthusiast market) if the present indicators are anything to judge by. This is likely to prove a bonus for the buyers but will also preclude any combined effort in V8 Supercars.
Of course I could well be talking out of my *ss - it's been known to happen before.
I think Ford are kidding themselves. Until there is a factory backed team with the kind of money and resources that are available to HRT we will always be second across the line.
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Lets hope it happens
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