ashley313 wrote:
Not if they're using the old car and assemble enough of the old staff and new blood to have at least a bare bones outfit together. Its not much of a stretch to go run the same as last year on short notice if you have the folks who already did it. With the stability in the rules this year the rest of the field shouldn't move that far ahead of them. As long as they can qualify and keep the cars running they'd be fine. You make sure everyone knows you're just using this year to get your fairy cakes together and nobody expects any more than that. If they have a lot of cash, and they must if Bernie approves, they can afford to dress up their show and look better than HRT ever did.
Some of the well known guys shopping for seats may be part of the whole thing too. If you want Heikki, Bruno, KK, or any of the young big budget guys to get onboard you need to give them something to drive THIS year to have them for next year. Nobody wants to sit out a season. They could be trying to pick up the scraps from the Merc management/design team feast that's going on right now, there are so many good possibilities right now for putting together a proper effort in 2014 - but its all easier to do if you've got SOMETHING on track this year.
Bravo. Well said.
Speaking from experience, there is NOTHING more valuable to a race team than actual on-track experience for every facet of a team. From the Drivers, to the mechanics, to the engineers and to establishing working relationships… even a losing campaign earns them a wealth of knowledge that could only serve to benefit any new team as they prepare for the following season. With 2014 rules changes coming into effect, there's is MUCH to gain from prior
experience and nothing to lose. Everyone will essentially be starting from scratch again on many regards and many new things can be learned and figured out during a full season of actual racing.
And let's not forget that although HRT were working through a budget crisis, they were steadily progressing so there was at least some sort of sound foundation there that simply needed more money. Add to their package the KERS boost and who knows how much better they could have fared. Either way, as I said when the news broke about HRT going belly up, buying them up is likely a more economically feasible way for the U.S. to get into the sport and it looks as though it might come to fruition.
As well, seems to me like Bernie might try to get them on the grid for 2013 and I say go for it. [fingers crossed]