Manor asks to start the season with 2016 car

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Manor asks to start the season with 2016 car

Published on 20 Jan 2017 10:55
5
By: Rob Veenstra

If Manor finds an eleventh-hour saviour, the embattled backmarker team would have to race its 2016 car early this season. That is the claim of Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, as Manor reportedly enters its final 10 days before administrators move to close down the team.

"One month before testing, no investor has been found yet," reports Tobias Gruner. "We hear that Renault and Toro Rosso have already taken some Manor employees under contract. In order to buy some time, Manor has now asked the FIA for help," he revealed.

Auto Motor und Sport said an Asian consortium and American Tavo Hellmund may be interested in buying Manor, but no deal is done. So for now, the team's British headquarters are quiet, even though rival teams are busily preparing their radically different cars for the new 2017 rules.

Gruner continued: "Even if an investor is found, the racing operation cannot start again immediately. To have more time for a last-minute sale, the team has asked the FIA if it can use its old (2016) car in the first three races."

The report said the move would require the consent not only of the FIA but the other ten teams. "It is clear that a 2016 car will have no chance of the 107pc qualifying rule against the faster 2017 cars," Gruner concluded. (GMM)

Harryw

Posts: 107

Kill off starter teams and where will next McLaren and williams come from?

1
Jan 22 2017 - 10:38

F1 News Manor Motorsport

Replies (5)

Vet5

Posts: 225
This won't happen, they have even gave the answer as to why it wont happen and thats because of the 107% rule, blue flag situation will be dangerous if they let a 2016 manor car on track.
- + 0
- Jan 20 2017 - 14:58
- boudy
  
  Posts: 1,168
  Maybe the economics beat logic, wouldn't be the first time.
  + 0
  
  Jan 20 2017 - 15:05
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  The 107% rule means very little nowadays, its more of a guideline. Both Caterham and Marussia didnt make the 107% rule at several occations, yet they were still allowed to race by the FIA.
  + 0
  
  Jan 23 2017 - 05:55
Kevin

Posts: 5,397
Just get rid of them already. They have been struggling for years, and there is zero progress. They don't belong in F1.
- + 0
- Jan 20 2017 - 18:28
- Harryw
  
  Posts: 107
  Kill off starter teams and where will next McLaren and williams come from?
  + 1
  
  Jan 22 2017 - 10:38