Hispania Toyota?

[V12]

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/14112010/23/hrt-announce-toyota-deal-imminently.html

Rumours that Hispania are going to get the TF110s for next year. Not sure how well this will work, given the cars will be a year old and need to be reworked without a double diffuser and any other regulation changes that affect it.

Article says they'll also be sticking with Cosworth power, which I guess isn't surprising given their Williams transmission deal, although that will be one more thing that will need reworking I assume, given the Toyota was designed for it's own engine and transmission?

Still think, especially given the engine freeze, that those Toyota V8s sitting idle are a huge waste, would be good if they could be resurrected to give a bit more variety.

[N. Jones]

I heard about this too through Joe Saward's blog. He did say that there is a possibility that the deal might be scrapped because HRT has not done anything with the Toyota technology.

He (meaning Mr. Saward) had also said, speaking of HRT, that he thought Williams would be best served by loaning Hulkenberg to HRT until Rubens retires. I think HRT wold partner him with de la Rosa, which also is just a rumor.

[VkmSpouge]

Rumours that Hispania are going to get the TF110s for next year. Not sure how well this will work, given the cars will be a year old and need to be reworked without a double diffuser and any other regulation changes that affect it.

Even with the removal of such items the Toyota TF110 will work a lot better than any number of updates Hispania could perform on their current Hispania F110. It would move them forward by several seconds a lap in pace if they were to run the car.

[steveaki13]

Interesting.... Very Interesting.

Could be a good move. At least it all suggests they intend to be around.

[Nikki Katz]

Strange, Autosport are now reporting the complete opposite. I thought that Hispania had been trying to use the Toyota chassis ever since Stefan didn't show up, and were near certain to use it next year. But Toyota have now apparently cut all ties due to non-payment.

Not good, sounds a bit like the beginning of the end of Hispania to me :(

[N4D13]

Strange, Autosport are now reporting the complete opposite. I thought that Hispania had been trying to use the Toyota chassis ever since Stefan didn't show up, and were near certain to use it next year. But Toyota have now apparently cut all ties due to non-payment.

Not good, sounds a bit like the beginning of the end of Hispania to me :(
I agree, although, quite frankly, the only reason why I would miss them is because I would still like to see PdlR racing, and he might have a chance with them. :D

BTW, here's the link to Autosport: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88313.

[truefan72]

the only reason I would miss Hispania is that it would mean 2 less cars on the grid. I hope stefan GP or Villeneuve or whoever, buys this teams,. gets the toyota deal and makes this car competitive. I am still pissed at the FIA for not granting Stefan GP an entry, and for not,at the very least, placing a team as an alternative for 2011 if a current one should default.

I do hope someone comes in and buys this team

[VkmSpouge]

Looks like Hispania needs to find the money from somewhere in order for the deal to go through. I hardly think there are many people queued up to buy the Toyotas.

[Sleeper]

Given that it would be an undeveloped, reworked car designed to a different set of regulations, I expect they would still have found themselves at the back of the grid.

[CNR]

Are they ?
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/2010-11-15-491788509_x.htm
Toyota ends links with Hispania F1 team

Toyota ended all cooperation with the Hispania Racing Formula One team on Monday.
Toyota said HRT "has not met its contractual payment obligations" and the carmaker "will pursue all available options to reach a satisfactory conclusion to this matter."

[N. Jones]

...and people (journalists mostly) keep saying that Virgin is trouble?
I would be surprised if HRT is a part of 2011.

[truefan72]

perhaps we will see Virgin secure the toyota package. They should do it if they know what's good for them. Plus Glock has some Toyota experience which might help.

[ArrowsFA1]

The word shambolic springs to mind.

HRT's use of an undeveloped Dallara, and their bewildering use of drivers, nevermind the arbitary reasons given for benching them at certain times, didn't do anything for the team's credibility.

Now, it appears, they have no car for 2012, or any means to produce one.

When the likes of ART, who have a stellar reputation in GP2 & F3, can't get into F1 it seems crazy that the likes of HRT currently have a place on the grid.

[52Paddy]

the only reason I would miss Hispania is that it would mean 2 less cars on the grid. I do hope someone comes in and buys this team

I'm thinking the same. I don't care much for the team themselves, but I wouldn't like to see the grids get smaller when, potentially, we could have 26 cars again!

[VkmSpouge]

Now, it appears, they have no car for 2012, or any means to produce one.

I don't think 2012 is concerning Hispania just yet :p :

[Malbec]

The word shambolic springs to mind.

HRT's use of an undeveloped Dallara, and their bewildering use of drivers, nevermind the arbitary reasons given for benching them at certain times, didn't do anything for the team's credibility.

Now, it appears, they have no car for 2012, or any means to produce one.

When the likes of ART, who have a stellar reputation in GP2 & F3, can't get into F1 it seems crazy that the likes of HRT currently have a place on the grid.

It really does beggar belief that the Carabantes family were that poorly informed about F1. It seems as if they believed that an F1 team was like buying up shares in a company, high initial investment but wouldn't require continuous investment through the season. They've barely been able to stump up the cash to race to the end of 2010 and they are poorly prepared to carry on into 2011.

I hope the new shareholder who used to be in charge of Telefonica can get some sponsorship but if they carry on trying to 'represent' Spain they won't get any. Every decent prospective Spanish F1 sponsor only has eyes for Alonso. Alguesuari couldn't find any sponsors and De La Rosa could only find Burger King Spain.

I hope Williams are going to be paid upfront for their rear end, otherwise they might get their fingers burnt by HRT too.

[Big Ben]

the only reason I would miss Hispania is that it would mean 2 less cars on the grid.

While I agree with that, based on the way they performed this year and the prospects for the following season it wouldn't be much of a loss not to have this hopeless team around. I have nothing against new teams and I don't expect them to do well right away but this one unlike the other 2 seems to be going from bad to worse.

[N. Jones]

I'm thinking the same. I don't care much for the team themselves, but I wouldn't like to see the grids get smaller when, potentially, we could have 26 cars again!
:up:

[truefan72]

The word shambolic springs to mind.

HRT's use of an undeveloped Dallara, and their bewildering use of drivers, nevermind the arbitary reasons given for benching them at certain times, didn't do anything for the team's credibility.

Now, it appears, they have no car for 2012, or any means to produce one.

When the likes of ART, who have a stellar reputation in GP2 & F3, can't get into F1 it seems crazy that the likes of HRT currently have a place on the grid.

and to imagine that Stefan GP was ready to go with toyota cars that would have been instantly competitive seems even more astounding. The simple fact is that Max Mosley rigged the system of entry and blackmailed teams to use cosworth deals. Those who refused were not considered for entry. Instead they gave 2 slots to one team that never showed up and another that barely showed up. Then when an opportunity came to field another team willing and able to take the vacated slot,Todt and the FIA drowned themselves in some bureaucratic excuse to not even consider some sort of trial/conditional agreement with Stefan GP to actually see if they could go forward.

[N. Jones]

I can agree with that. The FIA should allow someone to use the Toyota programme as an entry for next season.
It would definitely be better than Virgin or HRT.

[Roamy]

Toad is a POS and should have never been given the position - he is just a shorter version of Mosely

[Dr.Phibes]

and to imagine that Stefan GP was ready to go with toyota cars that would have been instantly competitive seems even more astounding. The simple fact is that Max Mosley rigged the system of entry and blackmailed teams to use cosworth deals. Those who refused were not considered for entry. Instead they gave 2 slots to one team that never showed up and another that barely showed up. Then when an opportunity came to field another team willing and able to take the vacated slot,Todt and the FIA drowned themselves in some bureaucratic excuse to not even consider some sort of trial/conditional agreement with Stefan GP to actually see if they could go forward.

There never was a Stefan GP. The guy was a fraud trying to scam TMG. Seriously, his so called "company" realised a net result of 42,70€ in 2009. I don't think you can run a F1 team with that kinda money.

[V12]

The word shambolic springs to mind.

HRT's use of an undeveloped Dallara, and their bewildering use of drivers, nevermind the arbitary reasons given for benching them at certain times, didn't do anything for the team's credibility.

Now, it appears, they have no car for 2012, or any means to produce one.

When the likes of ART, who have a stellar reputation in GP2 & F3, can't get into F1 it seems crazy that the likes of HRT currently have a place on the grid.

I see what you're getting at, although ART would need to either acquire or get facilities to build their own car too. Plus Hispania was born out of the Campos team that had a good record in GP2 and were champions, maybe they didn't have the level of sustained success that ART have had, but fairly close. To be fair to Hispania they're hardly the most shambolic new constructor that's entered the sport. They made the end of their first year and it's not like they were 10 seconds off the pace either. I believe they would have made 107% the vast majority of the time.

While there is a spot available within the supposed 13-team limit, the real issue is the fact that this spot wasn't given to anyone, rather than Hispania keeping better qualified entrants out.

I personally think given Epsilon's interest in entering F1, their ability to create their own car (they did an LMP not so long ago), and nationality, a good solution might have been for them to take over or partner with Hispania, but even if both parties did agree to that now, building a car for the start of 2011 might be a long shot.

Unless the Toyota deal gets resurrected I guess it looks like they're gone. Even if they modify their Dallara for next seasons rules, I don't see them making 107% most of the time.

[Anubis]

The word shambolic springs to mind.

HRT's use of an undeveloped Dallara, and their bewildering use of drivers, nevermind the arbitary reasons given for benching them at certain times, didn't do anything for the team's credibility.

Now, it appears, they have no car for 2012, or any means to produce one.

When the likes of ART, who have a stellar reputation in GP2 & F3, can't get into F1 it seems crazy that the likes of HRT currently have a place on the grid.

GP2 (or F3000 as was) and F3 pedigree is no guarantee - look at the likes of Coloni and Pacific. Both had reasonable success at those levels. I'm probably alone in that I kind of liked HRT in a weird, ultimate underdog sort of way. Given the difficult birth, they didn't do THAT badly. They at least GOT to the grid, which is more than USF1 managed, and they finished plenty of races. Granted, stone last, but that was always expected, and they weren't a million miles behind Lotus and Virgin. If anyone has looked a bit shabby, I think it's Bruno Senna. We all know Yamamoto is rubbish, and Chandhok never really got the chance to do much, but I think Senna was rather a let down.

[steveaki13]

I thought Hispania did OK.

After the first couple of races they were usually within 5 or 6 seconds of pole and they created quite a realiable car.

A lot better than a lot of other teams we have seen in the past.

I really hope they sort themselves out and are able to be on the grid for 2011

[ArrowsFA1]

I see what you're getting at, although ART would need to either acquire or get facilities to build their own car too.
True, but it's my impression that ART are a far more professional outfit than HRT and would have developed a far more credible and competitive team. But they decided against entering F1 so credit to HRT for at least getting themselves on the grid; but that's about all they did!

There's been no sign of progress as the season has gone along, nor is there any evidence as yet that they will do any better in 2011.

[DexDexter]

I thought Hispania did OK.

After the first couple of races they were usually within 5 or 6 seconds of pole and they created quite a realiable car.

A lot better than a lot of other teams we have seen in the past.

I really hope they sort themselves out and are able to be on the grid for 2011

I agree. Actually, they were closer to Virgin and Lotus than they should've been. We've seen far worse teams in F1 over the years.

[Anubis]

I agree. Actually, they were closer to Virgin and Lotus than they should've been. We've seen far worse teams in F1 over the years.

Oh for the days of pre-qualifying, Andrea Moda, EuroBrun, Life and Monteverdi :)

[wattoroos]

i really hope they can find some help this off-season whether it be financial or technical but the more cars there is, the more opportunities for drivers. like we saw chandhok this year who in my opinion was quite decent but he didnt have deep enough pockets but they might have more sponsorship next season. if HRT cant find anything else i think it is goodbye