From: bspahh@gdr.bath.ac.uk (Andrew Henry)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.sport
Subject: F1: Silly Season Rumours
Date: 5 Sep 92 18:32:05 GMT
Organization: School of Biological Sciences, University of Bath, UK

The Motoring News didn't think that either Senna or Mansell would
join Prost at Williams for 1993.  Apparently Mansell has some firm
offers of CART drives.  One is to join Fittipaldi at Penske, the
other is to replace Michael Andretti at Newman Haas.

For McLaren, the Motoring News quotes a rumour of Schumacher, Brundle
*and* the Ford HB V8 going en masse to McLaren. It doesn't say if
they'd also change the livery to yellow and green!  

Apparently the Benetton would be paid a substantial amount which would
be used for a hi-tech B193 with the Ford V12, traction control, active
ride and semi-automatic transmission, with Riccardo Patrese to do the
test driving.

Al Unser Jr was courted by Benetton at the Canadian GP, had a seat
fitting, and was supposed to have had a three-day test last Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday.  Bernie Ecclestone is known to want a leading
American in F1.  Apparently he has 'told' Flavio Briatore which one he
wants him to run.  

Autosport quotes Al Jr with: 

 "I've been waiting for a call but I haven't heard a thing. It's 
  disappointing but I'm only interested in driving with a serious team.  
  Maybe they aren't as serious as I thought."

Autosport said that Ron Dennis was continuing to 'waft around the F1
paddock with a serene grin on his face', saying that he's not worried
about 1993.  Apparently Honda is certain to quit F1. There have been
rumours of them using the Ford V12 or the Toyota V10.  There is another
suggestion that TAG has been funding the development of a new engine,
designed by ex-Honda engineer Osamu Goto.  This would be built by
another manufacturer, possibly Cosworth, Porsche, BMW, Audi or VW.
[hmmm should I crosspost this to rec.autos.vw ?  :-)]

Both MN and Autosport tip JJ Lehto to join Karl Wendlinger at Sauber.
Sauber are also going to be one of the five teams with a development
contract with Goodyear.

Autosport tips Ivan Capelli to drive for Lola Scuderia Italia.
Thierry Boutsen has been linked with Jordan - they have a common sponsor 
in Barclay cigarettes.

Last week Williams announced they would give the British F3 champion a
test at Silverstone in an FW14B.  A couple of days later, Brazilian 
Gil de Ferran won the championship.

My favourite rumour was in the Motoring News.  Damon Hill, Mark
Blundell, Mika Hakkinen and *Derek Warwick* have been mentioned as
possible partners for Prost!  I think it would be fitting if Warwick
was the one to benefit from Prost's veto of Senna. Alternatively I
think that Hakkinen to Williams, Warwick to Lotus would be nice.


From an interview with Derek Warwick in Autosport:

 "All my life I just seemed to be the bridesmaid, and finally something's
  come true (winning Le Mans and the SWC).  This year I've got back my
  motivation, I've got back my aggression, and I'm very happy with my
  driving  (after the death of his younger brother in a F3000 accident).
  I'm still fast and I can still win races.  I'm not giving up and I can
  see another 10 or 20 years ahead of me. Mario Andretti will seem young
  when I finish racing."


			Andrew  Henry
Sempre  Gilles					bspahh@gdr.bath.ac.uk