[racing] Jaguar/Ford Leaving F1

Racing
1

Just posted by an F1 junkie on the Ferrari List:

Jaguar to leave Formula One
‘Ford to exit F1 activities’

Jaguar and Ford to leave Formula One

Ford today announced the end their Formula One programme with Jaguar. The F1
squad will not be re-branded as Ford as previously rumoured, but in fact is
to be sold.

The unexpected announcement was made as Ford announced that it was ending
production of cars at a plant in Coventry, central England, with the loss of
more than 1,000 jobs because of weak demand for the up-market brand.

Cosworth engineering will no longer receive a Ford subsidy, throwing into
doubt the supply of engines to both Minardi and Jordan Grand Prix.

“Jaguar’s presence in Formula One has been a valuable marketing and brand
awareness platform particularly outside our main markets of the US and the
UK,” said Chairman and CEO Jaguar and Land Rover, Joe Greenwell. “However it
was our collective view that it is time for Jaguar Cars to focus 100% on our
core business.”

“After a thorough review over many months Ford Motor Company has decided it
can no longer make a compelling business case for any of its brands to
compete in Formula One,” Greenwell continued. "Having reached this decision
our focus has turned to securing the best future for our Formula One
businesses and our employees in these businesses going forward. We are
therefore putting our Formula One businesses up for sale. "

Earlier this week, managing director David Pitchforth had voiced confidence
that the team would receive an increased budget for the 2005 season.

Providing Jaguar with the resources required to allow it to compete on a
level playing field with leading manufacturer teams like Ferrari and Renault
would have required a major cash injection that Ford would have found
difficult to justify at a time when it is cutting 1,000 jobs.

World champions Ferrari spend around 600 million dollars a year while
Jaguar’s 2004 budget was estimated at around 180 million dollars and their
performances reflect their limited funding. Current race drivers Christian
Klien and Mark Webber can both claim a best finish of sixth position.

A statement from Ford

Ford (to) exit from Formula One racing activities, including the sale of
those operations. The personnel reductions and the Formula One decision
together are estimated to result in a charge to pre-tax income of
approximately $450 million. Of this, it is expected that approximately $375
million of these charges are to occur this year, with the remainder
occurring next year.

E.A.
Source AFP / Ford

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2

Didn’t some honcho from Ford say (when they bought Jaguar) that they were
not going to mess with the “Marquee and tradition”? I’d hate to think that
the day is coming when you can buy a Jaguar-Escort, Jagcort, Escguar …
Smitty----- Original Message -----
Subject: [racing] Jaguar/Ford Leaving F1
Jaguar and Ford to leave Formula One
Ford today announced the end their Formula One programme with Jaguar. The F1
squad will not be re-branded as Ford as previously rumoured, but in fact is
to be sold.

The unexpected announcement was made as Ford announced that it was ending
production of cars at a plant in Coventry, central England, with the loss of
more than 1,000 jobs because of weak demand for the up-market brand.

Cosworth engineering will no longer receive a Ford subsidy, throwing into
doubt the supply of engines to both Minardi and Jordan Grand Prix.

“Jaguar’s presence in Formula One has been a valuable marketing and brand
awareness platform particularly outside our main markets of the US and the
UK,” said Chairman and CEO Jaguar and Land Rover, Joe Greenwell. “However it
was our collective view that it is time for Jaguar Cars to focus 100% on our
core business.”

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3

Jaguar and Ford to leave Formula One
Ford today announced the end their Formula One programme with Jaguar.
The F1
squad will not be re-branded as Ford as previously rumoured, but in fact
is
to be sold.

I love Jaguars, and I love Formula 1, and I am HAPPY that Jaguar is
leaving F1!!

Jaguar had no business being in F1 in the first place. Jaguar has never
been associated with F1, unlike Ferrari and some others. The sight of a
Jaguar F1 car with a blown engine on the F1 circuits - damn, just about
every race, no? - now that does nothing for the marque’s reputation
either.

I would love to see Jaguar return to LeMans in force. That’s where the
tradition is, and that is where the marque should be.

John

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4

I think that SAAB is the model here. Today’s SAAB’s are generic GM
products, except for the key being in the floor console. Parts and
platforms are shared with Isuzu, Saturn, Cadillac, Vauxhall, Opel. No
engineering done in Trollhattan.

Ford made an extraordinary series of stupid moves by acquiring Jaguar, AM,
Volvo and Rover. It was nice of them to pump money in to fix everyone’s
problems, but where are the sales? The Premier group cannibalized Mercury
sales and resources, but never produced big volumes to compensate. Mercury
has gone from 400K cars a year to 150K, meanwhile, Ford’s financial
position is a joke. Ford’s bullish earnings announcement this week was
based on loan revenues, not sales. Jaguar/Cougar sort of sound alike, may
as well do both in Dearborn on the corporate chassis. How long before
Jaguar gets front wheel drive, SUV’s, and pick up trucks? Glad they’re
keeping the MBA’s employed.

Mike Frank

At 12:59 PM 9/18/2004, you wrote:

Didn’t some honcho from Ford say (when they bought Jaguar) that they were
not going to mess with the “Marquee and tradition”? I’d hate to think
that the day is coming when you can buy a Jaguar-Escort, Jagcort, Escguar …

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5

on 9/18/04 10:37 AM, Mike Frank at mfrank@westnet.com wrote:

I think that SAAB is the model here. Today’s SAAB’s are generic GM
products, except for the key being in the floor console. Parts and
platforms are shared with Isuzu, Saturn, Cadillac, Vauxhall, Opel. No
engineering done in Trollhattan.

This is absolutely untrue, mike. You know nothing of what you speak. The
only similarities (in the 9-3 Model at least) between the SAAB and the GM
cousins are the following: Block design, but not casting (SAAB is in charge
of all GM Motorsport Ecotec castings, I got that straight out of the
Motorsport Exec’s mouth at SEMA last year); and chassis - not suspension,
just the big’ol epsilon chassis unitbody that underlies the body panels.

The Trionic 8 engine management is fully designed by SAAB in Trollhattan
also. One of the guys on the SAAB board is on the Trionic 8 design team
there. So really the only similarity is chassis and ecotec block, whereas
every other piece is designed and built in Sweden. Granted, GM MBA’s and
such will guarantee that a majority of the sensory parts used are GM issue,
etc…but your statement of SAABs being ‘generic’ GM products is
categorically false. Either way, I’m certainly not upset that I have a GM
Ecotec style engine under the hood instead of a 16v SAAB engine.
Lingenfelter got 1200hp out of the SAAB produced GM Motorsport casting.

Jason
'76 Saab 99 EMS Turbo
'04 Saab 9-3 Aero SS
'85 Jaguar XJ-S w/ 383" SBC

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6

In reply to a message from J. Rick Smith sent Sat 18 Sep 2004:

Let’s lighten up on the MBA’s, fellas.

KML MBA University of Iowa, 1986
*1933 Ford Tudor Sedan 350 LT1/4l60E
*1934 Ford 3W/Coupe 350/700r4
*1951 Ford 4 dr Sedan (restored)
*1955 Chevrolet conv. 265/pwrgld (restored)
*1959 Jag XK 150 (restored)
*1966 Olds 442 (restored)
*1972 XJ6 Lump 350 TPI/700r4–
The original message included these comments:

Didn’t some honcho from Ford say (when they bought Jaguar) that they were

–
KML
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

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