On Wednesday I wrote the following..

 

"On a side note, whilst looking at some of the newer teams likely to sign up with the FIA I've been reading about the "money man" behind the Manor entry, he has a string of no less than 10 companies that have been either dissolved, or struck off, but, he has influential friends within the FIA, its a matter of public record that he helped Max's mate Alan Donnelly (the FIA's full time advisor to the stewards, and Max's "reperesentative") make an alleged £460,000, from a stake of £1,250, via an investment in a dot com company that ultimately failed, thats quite a profit eh £458, 750. And whilst Team Principal John Booth has at various times managed or had driving for him the likes of Kimi Raikkonen,Christian Horner and Lewis Hamilton in their early careers I have serious doubts (for reasons I wont go into) about his abilities and longevity when it comes to running an F1 team."

http://forums.itv.com/1/852404/ShowThread.aspx

 

Last night The Guardian carried an article concerning the fact that "Formula One Teams" are to lodge a fromal complaint against the Manor f1 team.

 

"Formula One teams are preparing a formal complaint against the chief steward, Alan Donnelly, amid suspicions his company has been involved in helping to set up grid newcomers Manor.

Jane Nottage, an associate director of Donnelly's Sovereign Strategy, is understood to be running the public-relations strategy for Manor, albeit on a pro-bono basis. Donnelly also personally escorted a senior Manor executive around the paddock at a European grand prix, introducing him to team representatives ahead of Manor's inclusion next season.

The Guardian revealed a fortnight ago that the team principals of the eight Formula One Teams Association have written a letter of complaint about Donnelly to the World Motorsport Council and senate of the FIA – crucially bypassing the president, Max Mosley. Now teams harbour deeper suspicions of a conflict of interest stoked by the reappearance in Formula One of Nick Wirth, the Manor technical director who founded the ill-fated Simtek team alongside Mosley 20 years ago.

A close associate of Donnelly yesterday insisted he is well aware of his responsibilities as chair of the stewards and has "no direct involvement" in Manor. He added he had introduced Manor to the other teams after being asked to do so as a well-connected figure in the paddock. Donnelly is also Mosley's representative at grands prix."

 

 

 

I wonder how many of the other teams on Max's list (the one that was supposed to be published 2 or 3 times and never was) would have shown up to have problems of one sort or another?.

I am looking forward to that ridiculous complain. Just goes to show what FOTA is made off. Instead of sticking to agreements and representing them truthfully all they are capable off is backstabbing people who do not bend to them.

justrace:

I am looking forward to that ridiculous complain. Just goes to show what FOTA is made off. Instead of sticking to agreements and representing them truthfully all they are capable off is backstabbing people who do not bend to them.

 

Dear me what a load of rubbish, who are they backstabbing exactly ? A team that has gained entry to the series is having its public relations sorted by a director of a company owned by the Chief Steward of that series. Not very dodgy at all I suppose, if you're as straight as a dogs back leg.

I mentioned I'd been looking at Manor and some of the other "new" teams (the ones that I believe are the most genuine of Max's candidates anyway)

In particular Nick Wirth, the designer for Manor, Nick was a designer for March (mosleys team) then along with Mosley in 1989 the two were co-directors of Simtek research, Mosley sold his shares in Simtek when he was made president of the FIA, Simtek research and Simtek GP were unsuccessful either on or off track, and went bust in 1995, owing its creditors (according to the recievers) almost £8M, their unsecured creditors included the likes of Bennetton, Cosworth, Jack Brabham and the FIA, to name but a few.

 

Max and the FIA commissioned Nick Wirth in 2005 to conduct research into finding an aerodynamic solution to turbulence making it difficult for one car to follow/pass another, using a mix of CFD and virtual simulations Nick Wirth came up with the CDG wing concept (Centreline Generating Downwash) when Wirth had completed his work and presented it to the FIA The FIA released a statement containing the following.

"It is intended that the CDG Wing, together with wider wheels and slick tyres, will form part of the 2008 FIA Formula One Technical Regulations. With the support and collaboration of the teams it may be possible to introduce these changes as early as 2007.

Max Mosley, FIA President said,

“This new research  is important for the future of Formula One. By introducing the CDG wing we can give motor sport fans exactly what they have asked for, wheel-to-wheel racing with much more overtaking.

”It is our hope that the teams will collaborate with us in the optimisation of this radical new idea so that the aerodynamic benefits can be introduced into Formula One in 2007 rather than having to wait until 2008.”

 

Unfortunately, the teams weren't so easily convinced it would work, Using McLarens then adavanced wind tunnel Rory Byrne, Pat Symonds and Paddy Lowe quickly discovered that far from making overtaking easier, it would actually make it more difficult and the idea was scrapped.

Its reckoned that the Manor car could quite possibly be the first car completely designed using CFD and virtual simulation software, perhaps Manor should be hoping it works better than the CDG Wing.

Your post about Nick Wirth and the CDG wing is very interesting, stigga.  Presumably the FIA paid Wirth very well for his work.  I just wondered why they would ask a designer whose designs had failed in the past, to do this work for them.  There must have been plenty of aerodynamic engineers to choose from......    of course, Wirth may have had a personal recommendation..... 

pedekay:

Your post about Nick Wirth and the CDG wing is very interesting, stigga.  Presumably the FIA paid Wirth very well for his work.  I just wondered why they would ask a designer whose designs had failed in the past, to do this work for them.  There must have been plenty of aerodynamic engineers to choose from......    of course, Wirth may have had a personal recommendation..... 

 

Presumably he was paid handsomely pdk, another glowing example of Max incurring costs whilst telling everyone else that they must reduce them.

Nick Wirth has been pretty much unsuccessful in any sphere of F1, I think this will be his 4th attempt, as for personal recommendations, I think the Manor entry may be shown in time to have benefitted from more than one of those, Imo Donnelly in particular should resign as chief steward if Manor make it to the grid.

According to an article in the Guardian today, also reported on Pitpass, an email sent by Alan Donnelly is believed to reveal that he sent a sonsorship and investment agreement to a certain "royal highness" he hopes to meet in Saudi Arabia, the emai was apparently sent two weeks before Manor was confirmed as an entry.

If Alan Donnelly has been touting around investment opportunities it raises huge conflict of interest questions.

I tried to post the article but it was deleted, Its believed FOTA are not just demanding the selection process be reviewed, but also that its scrapped and started again from scratch.

 

 

stigga:

According to an article in the Guardian today, also reported on Pitpass, an email sent by Alan Donnelly is believed to reveal that he sent a sonsorship and investment agreement to a certain "royal highness" he hopes to meet in Saudi Arabia, the emai was apparently sent two weeks before Manor was confirmed as an entry.

If Alan Donnelly has been touting around investment opportunities it raises huge conflict of interest questions.

I tried to post the article but it was deleted, Its believed FOTA are not just demanding the selection process be reviewed, but also that its scrapped and started again from scratch.

* Sigh *

How did F1 become so corrupt? 

coops3:

stigga:

According to an article in the Guardian today, also reported on Pitpass, an email sent by Alan Donnelly is believed to reveal that he sent a sonsorship and investment agreement to a certain "royal highness" he hopes to meet in Saudi Arabia, the emai was apparently sent two weeks before Manor was confirmed as an entry.

If Alan Donnelly has been touting around investment opportunities it raises huge conflict of interest questions.

I tried to post the article but it was deleted, Its believed FOTA are not just demanding the selection process be reviewed, but also that its scrapped and started again from scratch.

* Sigh *

How did F1 become so corrupt? 

I suppose the lure of big money coops, made easier by the corrupt minds of those administering the sport.

Another question that I think could legitimately be raised if the email id authentic, the FIA, of which Alan Donnelly is a representative is forbidden from interfering in the commercial interests of the teams, surely arranging sponsorship/investment  for a team contravenes that, even if it is taking place before the team has officially been admitted

coops3:

stigga:

According to an article in the Guardian today, also reported on Pitpass, an email sent by Alan Donnelly is believed to reveal that he sent a sonsorship and investment agreement to a certain "royal highness" he hopes to meet in Saudi Arabia, the emai was apparently sent two weeks before Manor was confirmed as an entry.

If Alan Donnelly has been touting around investment opportunities it raises huge conflict of interest questions.

I tried to post the article but it was deleted, Its believed FOTA are not just demanding the selection process be reviewed, but also that its scrapped and started again from scratch.

* Sigh *

How did F1 become so corrupt? 

In a word.......   money.

stigga:

According to an article in the Guardian today, also reported on Pitpass, an email sent by Alan Donnelly is believed to reveal that he sent a sonsorship and investment agreement to a certain "royal highness" he hopes to meet in Saudi Arabia, the emai was apparently sent two weeks before Manor was confirmed as an entry.

If Alan Donnelly has been touting around investment opportunities it raises huge conflict of interest questions.

I tried to post the article but it was deleted, Its believed FOTA are not just demanding the selection process be reviewed, but also that its scrapped and started again from scratch.

 

 

I think this illustrates one of FOTA's problems with FIA governance, the lack of openness. I find the FIA an extremely secretive organisation. There is no indication of how they arrived at the decision to accept these three entries, I've tried to find some form of process that should be followed on their site but there's nothing. It could be perfectly reasonable and acceptable, but it could also be open to bribery and misuse, there's no way to tell. Similarly there's no financial information on their site. You cannot find any details of income and expenditure, all enquiries are met with "nothing found". I don't know if the FIA have to produce public accounts in the same way as British companies do but web searches have failed to come up with a single piece of information. I think FOTA, quite rightly in my view, want this changed, the secrecy removed and a much more open form of governance.

 

Virgin will quit Jenson Button's championship-leading Brawn GP team and seems likely to sponsor the Manor Grand Prix start-up that will be making its Formula One debut next season. A leaked email sent by Alan Donnelly, the official representative of Max Mosley, the president of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), suggests that the deal was agreed in principle in the month before Manor won a place in the 2010 championship ahead of Lola and Prodrive.

The email said: "Virgin have signed to be investment partners with a share holding of around 20%." Manor, however, said Virgin had no equity stake in their team.

Richard Branson stated on Sunday that Brawn's success on the grid meant he had been priced out of an association with the team in 2010. He stated then that "we may have to look somewhere else with a smaller team" but there is now evidence that a deal had already been struck. Virgin insisted it was keeping its options open and would "update on their position on next year's grand prix series" later this year. It did not respond yesterday to questions about whether it had received any prior guarantees that Manor would be accepted on to the Formula One grid. But since Manor refused to make public even its intention to bid for a place it would be intriguing if it had achieved Branson's in-principle endorsement so early.

The development is also likely to bring fresh focus on Donnelly, who has been accused by the Formula One Teams Association of a conflict of interest in his role as the chief of the stewards. He offered to facilitate meetings between a member of the Saudi royal family and a delegation from the team and its proposed sponsor. "I will be in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and look forward to seeing you at our planned meeting . . . with representatives of Manor and Virgin," wrote Donnelly in his email, sent to the Saudi royal.

"However if you would like a pre-meeting with me privately on Sunday then please let me know." Attached to the email was a sponsorship and investment agreement Donnelly said he was in Saudi Arabia on official FIA business, holding meetings with its sports ministry, potential investors in new circuits and the Saudi Motorsport Federation. "I also met potential investors in Formula One," he said. "It would be odd for an FIA representative to refuse to assist in any of these projects."

However, there is dismay at Prodrive, which expressed concern that the Saudi meetings took place five days before the submission deadline for
applications to enter the 2010 championship. "We went in on the basis that it was a level playing field for new entrants and that the strongest case would be chosen," said Ben Sayer of the Prodrive team. "We spent a lot of time and expense on our application."

Donnelly has repeatedly asserted he had "no role whatsoever" in the
due-diligence process on the new entrants to Formula One, which was overseen by the independent auditors, Deloitte.

katiekutie:

stigga:

According to an article in the Guardian today, also reported on Pitpass, an email sent by Alan Donnelly is believed to reveal that he sent a sonsorship and investment agreement to a certain "royal highness" he hopes to meet in Saudi Arabia, the emai was apparently sent two weeks before Manor was confirmed as an entry.

If Alan Donnelly has been touting around investment opportunities it raises huge conflict of interest questions.

I tried to post the article but it was deleted, Its believed FOTA are not just demanding the selection process be reviewed, but also that its scrapped and started again from scratch.

 

 

I think this illustrates one of FOTA's problems with FIA governance, the lack of openness. I find the FIA an extremely secretive organisation. There is no indication of how they arrived at the decision to accept these three entries, I've tried to find some form of process that should be followed on their site but there's nothing. It could be perfectly reasonable and acceptable, but it could also be open to bribery and misuse, there's no way to tell. Similarly there's no financial information on their site. You cannot find any details of income and expenditure, all enquiries are met with "nothing found". I don't know if the FIA have to produce public accounts in the same way as British companies do but web searches have failed to come up with a single piece of information. I think FOTA, quite rightly in my view, want this changed, the secrecy removed and a much more open form of governance.

 

 

The FIA Foundation, which is where, (if we are to believe Tom Rubython in part 2 of the article above) Max put the $300m is a charity.

Auditors
Grant Thornton UK LLP	Oxford
Banks
Barclays Bank PLC	London
Investment Managers
AXA Investment Managers	London
JPMorgan Charity Services	London
Morgan Stanley Investment Management	London
Morley Fund Management	London
Legal Advisers
Herbert Smith	London

 

Period End	Dec 2007
EOYHead	Dec-07
Total Income	£6.63m
Total Expenditure	£10.192m
Total Funds	£266.249m
Governance as% of Total expenditure	4.68%
Voluntary Income	0.342
Investment income	6.247
Investment Costs	1.292
Costs of Charitable Activities	8.422
Governance	0.478

 

 

As for the FIA itself I wouldn't know.

Thanks for that stigga, I have seen some of that for the Foundation which seems a very worthwhile thing and I didn't mean to suggest there was anything wrong with it if thats what my post implied.

It's the main body of the FIA I find secretive - one of my friends has likened it to a sort of Freemasons, not that I would really know what they are like, I've just heard the rumors about funny handshakes and ritual ceremonies!

stigga:

justrace:

I am looking forward to that ridiculous complain. Just goes to show what FOTA is made off. Instead of sticking to agreements and representing them truthfully all they are capable off is backstabbing people who do not bend to them.

 

Dear me what a load of rubbish, who are they backstabbing exactly ? A team that has gained entry to the series is having its public relations sorted by a director of a company owned by the Chief Steward of that series. Not very dodgy at all I suppose, if you're as straight as a dogs back leg.

There is no chief steward, there is only a head of stewards without vote.

Let me know once the complaint has been filed before you get completely carried away with your conspiracies.