So, with just under a month until testing begins for F1

[C]

Who's going to be having the best season?

Lotus have a solid driver line up, a chap called Gascoyne, and a decent backer...

Campos Meta haven't revealed too much, other than a chap called Senna, who's quite good. My bet to fold first if any of the teams fail...

VR? Reasonably strong team. Glock is a solid signing, de Grassi highly rated like Senna. Interesting design ideas...

USF1. Another dark horse, run by well known personalities and with good backing...

Mmm.

[machineman9]

I like Lotus cars, so I am voting Lotus.

If I've learnt one thing, it is that it's hard to make a good prediction in such a sport

[expat]

[quote]I like Lotus cars, so I am voting Lotus.

If I've learnt one thing, it is that it's hard to make a good prediction in such a sport

[CD.]

Can I reply at the end of February please?

[expat]

Can I reply at the end of February please?

Wuss

Matt

[C]

Can I reply at the end of February please?

How about, er,



no!

[The Ruptured Duck]

I'm becoming more optimistic about USF1's chances by the day.  It sounds like they nearly have the car assembled and they certainly have some talented engineers (I believe the founder of the site musannescorner.com is working for them).  Their wild card will be the drivers.

If not USF1, then I would place money on Lotus doing well.  They have been quiet, hopefully meaning they mean business and are working their tails off.

[expat]

Interesting that Lotus has taken the lead in the vote. The only thing the team have in common with the original Lotus team is the name. They could name themselves Trabant F1 but would have not got a vote. Playing on peoples memories and heart strings maybe. It is only known as Lotus in the UK, the rest of the world calls it 1Malaysia F1 Team. Lotus F1 Racing is run by 1Malaysia F1 Team Sdn. Bhd., a partnership between the Malaysian Government and a consortium of Malaysian entrepreneurs. The team will initially be based at the RTN (Racing Technology Norfolk Ltd.) facility in Norfolk, UK, 10 miles from the Lotus Cars factory. The team

[C]

[quote]Interesting that Lotus has taken the lead in the vote. The only thing the team have in common with the original Lotus team is the name. They could name themselves Trabant F1 but would have not got a vote. Playing on peoples memories and heart strings maybe. It is only known as Lotus in the UK, the rest of the world calls it 1Malaysia F1 Team. Lotus F1 Racing is run by 1Malaysia F1 Team Sdn. Bhd., a partnership between the Malaysian Government and a consortium of Malaysian entrepreneurs. The team will initially be based at the RTN (Racing Technology Norfolk Ltd.) facility in Norfolk, UK, 10 miles from the Lotus Cars factory. The team

[Craig.]

Matt I've been saying it all along. How long will it be before the die hard Lotus lovers start calling for heads when the car doesn't live up to the Lotus name.
And of course the whole legal battle between the Champmans and the people using the Lotus name against their wishes. All I'm gonna say is, See Jaguar. 

USF1, have apparently asked for a late entry into the season, missing the fly aways, and starting the season in spain.

Manor (virgin) Taking a huge risk using only CFD, the big teams have all found out to their detrement that when you put the computer numbers onto the track its doesn't always work. Brawn last year, Ferrari, Mclaren, Renault have all found it out the hard way.

Campos, will they actually show up is still the big question. Senna has the name, but yet to really see if he has enough talent to back it up. (like it or not, people will expect everything straight away)

[C]

Matt I've been saying it all along. How long will it be before the die hard Lotus lovers start calling for heads when the car doesn't live up to the Lotus name.

To be honest, die hard Lotus fans can't really complain can they. Lotus weren't really on top form in the 4 years before they last raced in F1!

And of course the whole legal battle between the Chapmans and the people using the Lotus name against their wishes.

Different Lotus though, one could argue. Team Lotus and Lotus F1 are very different things!

USF1, have apparently asked for a late entry into the season, missing the fly aways, and starting the season in spain.

To be honest, will it lose them much in the long term? Probably not. Plus they've just been granted the extra testing days, and excused the European tests (common sense in F1? Bernie must be losing it!).

Manor (virgin) Taking a huge risk using only CFD, the big teams have all found out to their detrement that when you put the computer numbers onto the track its doesn't always work.

Doesn't always work, but Mr Wirth is regarded as somewhat of a genius in that department. Maybe he'll have the key to unlocking the technology fully (and getting very rich doing so).

Campos, will they actually show up is still the big question. Senna has the name, but yet to really see if he has enough talent to back it up. (like it or not, people will expect everything straight away)

Quite. Much as Alonso's big in Spain, I can't see them having the same fanatical backing of a rear echelon team.

[C]

And just to back up the legions of support for Campos-Meta:

Campos insists his Formula 1 team will make 2010 grid

Not a hope then?

[machineman9]

[quote][quote]I like Lotus cars, so I am voting Lotus.

If I've learnt one thing, it is that it's hard to make a good prediction in such a sport

[Craig.]

[quote][quote][quote]I like Lotus cars, so I am voting Lotus.

If I've learnt one thing, it is that it's hard to make a good prediction in such a sport

[The Ruptured Duck]

The report that USF1 has asked for a late entry is a rumor thats been denied.  They have however been granted six strait line test days or wind tunnel days