So, your best friends are going on vacation, but you were not invited. Well, maybe calling them "friends" is a being bit generous; they are really just some folks that you'd give practically anything to be like. Whenever they get together they always draw a huge crowd (except in Turkey or China, but I digress), and everyone seems to have a grand old time. Not wanting to be left out, you decide that, whatever the cost, you are going on this vacation. "But there are no more tickets", they warn, "And, quite frankly, we don't think you can 'party' at our level. Really, guy, we've never even heard of you."
And if people describe you in terms other than "unabashedly tenacious", such disparaging remarks might disabuse you of such notions. But, if your name is Zoran Stefanovic, then the only thing to do is to blast on full tilt towards your seemingly ridiculous goals. As Patty readers are so very astute, I am sure that, by now, you have penetrated my puzzling metaphor and have deduced that the subject of this blather is the bold efforts of one Stefan GP to make it to the 2010 grid.
It all started back in September, a time when the F1 world was just gearing up a for a thrilling championship showdown projected against the backdrop of the Renault WMSC hearing. In the midst of that flurry of on-and-off-track activity, there was also the emerging story of Stefan GP. The brain-child of Zoran Stefanovic, Stefan GP aimed to establish an F1 team based in Serbia; the problem was that Stefanovic's outfit was overlooked by the FIA selection committee when they chose the 2010 entrants. Stefan's charge to the grid began by demanding that the European Commission annul that entire entry selection process on the grounds of monopolistic practices.
If we're being honest, then the whole idea seemed quite laughable at the time. Here was an outfit that nobody had ever heard of trying to worm their way onto an already overstuffed grid; they were even trying to go over the FIA's head. But as the season ended and the lull of the off season began, Stefan GP began slowly scraping together the appearance of being a legitimate contender for the 13th spot on the grid. In fact, one could make the argument that they currently appear more likely to turn a competitive wheel in 2010 than Campos or USF1.
It has already been a long journey of behind-the-scenes wrangling which has brought Stefan GP ever closer to being a "real" grand prix team. At first, they endured what appeared to be a very major setback; they were in talks to purchase Toyota's entry, but that entry eventually went to Sauber (with Sauber not initially having an entry because BMW failed to sign the Concorde Agreement in June, try to follow along here people). Failing to secure that entry, Stefan GP went on to have discussions about purchasing or leasing elements of the now defunct Toyota F1 operation. From those discussions, it emerged that Stefan GP had purchased the rights to the design that was to be Toyota's 2010 challenger. That deal also included unspecified "technical support" from Toyota Motorsport.
So that would seem to take care of the car and possibly development of said car. But what about strong team leadership by people who know the F1 ropes? Enter Mike Coughlan and Dave Ryan, former McLaren designer and McLaren team manager, respectively, who were major figures in "spygate" and "liegate", also respectively.
Though they have since been brought into disrepute through their various questionable activities, Ryan and Coughlan both have years of experience in a top-flight F1 operation. Whether or not you agree with the choices these two have made, it is hard to deny the fact that their experience at McLaren would be a huge boon to any new Formula One team. There is a tremendous difference between feeling like you are fully prepared to run an F1 team in 2010 and having a few F1 veterans tell you that you are. Whether or not Coughlan and Ryan will end up regretting their move to the upstart Stefan, or to what extent they will be utilized in the team remains to be seen.
At this point, Stefan might still have been a seemingly spurious consideration for the last grid spot were it not for the troubles plaguing the Campos outfit. In recent weeks, stories have been emerging questioning the financial viability of Campos. There have been talks of a last minute rescue deal with Tony Teixeira providing much needed funds. Those of you who follow the lower open wheeled formulae might recognize Mr. Teixeira as the man who was in charge of the defunct A1GP series. Bearing that in mind, you would be forgiven for remaining skeptical about Teixeira's own liquidity.
As if the omnipresent rumors regarding Campos' money troubles weren't enough, stories then emerged detailing efforts by Stefan GP to purchase the Dallara design which was to be Campos' first F1 challenger. Struggling to raise the capital to continue your F1 venture is one thing, having the car you intended to run purchased out from under you is entirely another. However, Campos' has vehemently denied those stories and continue to insist that they are still on track to make the grid in 2010.
Although Stefan GP have been on the offensive in recent weeks, there are still crucial questions which need answers before they will become a reality in the F1 world. First of all, Stefanovic has said on numerous occasions that the Serbian government are backing the project financially. On the face of it, that sounds like a positive, but things are rarely that simple. In case you have forgotten, the world is in the midst of an ever so wonderful economic crisis. As such, the Serbian government is experiencing financial difficulties like many governments of the world. In fact, Serbia is in the process of receiving a $4 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund. Attached to that loan are conditions which include a reduction in government spending and eliminating governmental waste. One wonders what the IMF will say about a Serbian government initiative to go motor racing while the GDP of the country shrinks and 18% of the workforce are unemployed.
It is worth noting that there is a fine line between audacity and foolishness; the difference between the two is down to the success of the project. For example, your decision to phone your ex-lover at 3am Saturday morning when you are 7 hours into a terrific bender would be classified as foolish, unless, as a result, he/she ends up inviting you over for a night of nostalgic debauchery - in that case you were clearly being audacious. It remains to be seen on which side of that divide Stefan GP's efforts will be classified. Much is yet to be determined, but one thing is clear: time is Stefan's greatest nemesis. They may have a car that has passed the equivalent of FIA crash tests (ahem, I'm looking at you, USF1), and they may have plans to ferry all of their equipment to Bahrain, but if 13 other teams do the same, then Stefan will have no recourse but to look ahead to 2011.
Still, all things aside, you do have to applaud the never-say-die mindset possessed by Mr. Stefanovic. The man knows he wants to go Formula One racing and, damnit, he's not going to take no for an answer. Even though his ability to push his team onto the 2010 grid is probably still short of a 50-50 shot, there is certainly something to be said for his single-minded pursuit of a dream.
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Also, welcome onboard beard, I'm that thing that feels you every now and again when in deep thought.
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