Paul Stoddart Returns, Maybe
Paul Stoddart, perennial pain in the posterier to Bernie and Mad Max during his Minardi days could race back into the world of open-wheel racing with his own Champ Car team.
The Australian entrepreneur, after selling his Minardi team to Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz prior to the 2006 season, is reportedly linking up with Harry Muermans, a staunch supporter of Stoddart’s F1 efforts.
A debut in the 2007 CCWS season is possible, according to Dutch grand prix publication ‘Formule 1 RaceReport‘.
”It is still very early to say,” Muermans, supporter of the F1 careers of Jos Verstappen and Robert Doornbos, was quoted as saying.
Muermans was, however, spotted at the recent Champ Car event in Portland, where he reportedly met with series owner Kevin Kalkhoven.
In March 2006, less than a year after selling his team to Red Bull, Stoddart announced his intentions to return the Minardi name to Formula One after lodging an entry with the FIA for the 2008 championship season. However, Prodrive were awarded the 12th and final place on the grid.
Paul Stoddart, CCWS, Champ Car World Series, F1, Formula One, Minardi, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle
I’ve got a funny feeling this is a beat up, to jump the 2008 cut off, Prodrive got the last “franchise”, you would have to be on the grid at the beginning of 07. I see this as a impossible task.Only the (now silent) Direxiv & the team Dubai plans of doing the McLaren B team would seem credible & both are off the radar.Paul is a guy you can admire but there are times when he lets the BS fly.However, I would not be surprised if another Dutch group snagged Midland.
I thought that was the name of the game, float as much BS as possible in the hope that something either sticks or at least covers the real motive.
Regardless I’d love to see Stoddart back on the scene if for no other reason as someone to stir the pot once in a while.
And lord knows he’s a master at that.