http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns20358.html

The word from Italy is that the Fiat-owned Lancia brand is considering buying into Scuderia Toro Rosso, as part of its plan to revive the marque by expanding sales of Lancia models in Europe and beyond.

The firm is now being run by Frenchman Olivier Francois, who has been in the job for the last couple of years, and is committed to tripling Lancia sales to 300,000 cars in 2010.

It is worth noting that before joining Lancia, Francois worked at Peugeot Citroen in France and there may be links with recent rumours suggesting that Nicolas Todt, son of Jean Todt (formerly at Peugeot Citroen before joining Ferrari), might buy into the Italian-based team, to create a secondary Fiat-owned operation. This makes sense as the team would be allowed to use Ferrari engine and drivetrain technology but would need to build its own chassis.

As long at STR stays on the grid with Seabass on board, I'm with it.

I'll take that, Martini sponsored Lancias. Plus, it'll keep two more cars on the grid.

A Ferrari powered "Lancia?"

This is the same Lancia that has been owned by FIAT since 1969?

If this is true, it will sure keep those customer cars ouf of F-1!

Great!! right up to the point were they said ferraaree engines...second hand junk.

And what will be next? Will Ford make a comeback or a new US manufacturer like Chevy or Cadillac make a
long shot into the F1 grid since privateering will become a problem? Will a Panoz enter the grid as well?

Cool, I wonder if they will be red too. It would be fun to have two teams to root for.

LEDZEP - 17 May 2008 03:02 PM

Great!! right up to the point were they said ferraaree engines...second hand junk.

If what they'll get is second hand junk; all I can say is show me were the junk pile is!

If this goes through, it could be the way forward for the long awaited Ferrari "B" team with Michael Schumacher as team principle.

stonethecrows - 20 May 2008 08:39 AM

If this goes through, it could be the way forward for the long awaited Ferrari "B" team with Michael Schumacher as team principle.

I was thinking the same thing.

Sauber was basically a Ferrari B Team from the late 90s and on and they some good results.