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Renault considering rival bids for team

By Jonathan Noble Friday, December 4th 2009, 11:11 GMT


Renault is at the centre of rival bids to take control of its Formula 1 team, AUTOSPORT has learned, as David Richards' Prodrive operation faces opposition from Luxembourg investment fund Genii Capital.

The French car manufacturer's executive committee met in Paris yesterday to discuss the future plans for the team, ahead of a crunch board meeting next week.

It is understood that no formal decision was made about what to do, because it was felt that the rival bids need more consideration, but it is edging close to picking which way it wants to go.

A report that first emerged in French newspaper Le Parisien this morning, which has been confirmed to AUTOSPORT by sources close to the deal, has revealed that rather than Prodrive's bid being in co-operation with that of businessmen Gerard Lopez, as was initially suggested, they are in fact rivals.

Lopez's plans are being put together through his Genii Capital company, with co-operation from his business partner Eric Lux. The company has invested in a number of projects - including the Charlie Chaplin museum in Switzerland and the Gravity Sports Management company that looks after a number of drivers.

It is understood that Lopez's plan is for his company to take financial control of the team, but for it to remain Renault for at least another two years.

Sources have revealed that he intends to take between 75 and 100 per cent of the Renault team if his bid is successful. Furthermore, Lopez has agreed to incorporate the Renault Driver Development programme into his Gravity Sports Management company if he takes over the team.

Le Parisien suggests that Renault's CEO Carlos Ghosn favours this option for the future - especially because it has the blessing of Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

AUTOSPORT understands that although the executive committee did not make a formal decision about its plans for next year, it feels the Lopez bid is in pole position.

However, the situation is complicated by the fact that the current Renault F1 team management is believed to favour the bid being put together by Prodrive.

Richards' vast experience of running teams at all levels of motorsport would be valuable to Renault as it bids to return to the top in F1 - and it is believed his involvement would allow Renault the chance to withdraw its name from F1 and remain only as an engine supplier.

Ecclestone told The Times on Friday that he was confident a solution would be found to keep the Renault team in F1.

"We've got to get the whole Renault thing sorted out," he said. "We are in the middle of doing it now. I feel confident that we'll see Renault next year in Formula 1 under the name Renault and the year after and the year after that."

Accord escribió:Otra opción de la que se habla, rival a prodrive, según la cual el nombre 'renault' se mantendría a pesar de que se venda el equipo:

Hamilton-Renault F1 rumours

December 12, 2009 by joesaward

There are still plenty of rumours swirling around the future of Renault with the Prodrive and Lopez bids apparently not the only ones under discussion. According to French sources there has also been interest from Addax, the GP2 which is owned by Alejandro Agag, the well-connected Spaniard who has been a little too close to Flavio Briatore for comfort in the past. He is also the son-in-law of former Spanish Prime Minister (1996-2004) José María Aznar. There has even been talk of Craig Pollock making a comeback. The Scot, who ran BAR for some years, is often rumoured to be thinking about a return to the sport but seems to be happy enough doing business in other spheres and has not been seen in the paddock for some time.

The latest rumour, however, is more interesting as it suggests that one of those sniffing around Renault is none other than Anthony Hamilton, father of you-know-who. Long gone are the days when drivers were able to start their own teams – as happened a lot in the 1960s – of those original teams only McLaren remains today but Brabham and Eagle both won races and the former championships as well. There were also the likes of Amon, Hill, Fittipaldi and Prost, which were less successful and even the likes of Merzario and Rebaque. In the modern era Jacques Villeneuve (it is said) and Gerhard Berger also owned shares in teams but the Austrian bailed out when he was asked to put in money. Over in America driver ownership is fairly normal with the likes of Michael Andretti, Bobby Rahal, Chip Ganassi, Roger Penske, Adrian Fernandez and, more recently Gil de Ferran going down that route in open wheelers and in stock cars great traditions with the Petty Family, Richard Childress, Dale Earnhardt and, most recently, Robby Gordon and Tony Stewart. Nothing is impossible is there is ambition and money.

Given the amount of cash that racing stars have been able to generate in recent years the idea is not ridiculous, particularly now as the price of F1 teams is currently low. Drivers are rarely the right people to run F1 teams (as history relates) but this does not mean that their relatives cannot give it a go. Nor for that matter does a team owned by a driver have to employ that driver. In America we have seen Dale Earnhardt Inc for many years NOT employing Dale Earnhardt Sr, and more recenty even Dale Jr jumped ship…

Renault to announce F1 takeover on Wednesday
Racing series F1
Date 2009-12-15

By Motorsport.com/GMM

Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn has made his choice about the Enstone based team's new majority shareholder and it will be announced on Wednesday, according to new French reports.

Le Parisien newspaper said a board meeting last week narrowed down the selection to two bidders, namely Gerard Lopez and David Richards, and Ghosn was set to personally chose on Monday.

On Tuesday the contract will reportedly be signed, ahead of public confirmation some 24 hours later.

Team boss Bob Bell is said to have addressed staff about the takeover at the Enstone headquarters last Friday, clarifying that Robert Kubica is still lined up as the lead driver.

Le Parisien mentioned Kamui Kobayashi and Nick Heidfeld as the likely candidates to be the Pole's teammate.

The team will continue to be called Renault for the next two years, with the carmaker to continue to own the Viry-Chatillon headquarters in order to remain an engine supplier to customer teams like Red Bull.