Still without an investor prepared to save the team, Manor Racing has reportedly submitted a request to the FIA for permission to run the 2016 car this upcoming season. If the request is approved, this will increase the team’s likelihood of finding a savior.
The team entered administration on January 7, as the owner was unable to find a party interested his taking over ownership of the team. It was rumored on Monday that the team had received an offer from an unnamed investor, but would likely only have until Friday to accept or deny this deal. There is no information on whether or not this deal was completed.
However, it has been reported that Manor has submitted a request to run the 2016 car for the first three races of the season, as they fear that they will not be ready in time for the start of the season, even if they can find an immediate investor. The request requires approval from the FIA and the other teams in the sport. The request is likely to be denied due to the increased speeds of the 2017 car compared to the 2016 cars.
Running the 2016 car would allow the team to search for a new investor without missing the first few races of the season, increasing the likelihood that an investor will take over the team. The 2017 car is reportedly ready to go into production, but the administrators have prevented the team from doing so in order to prevent further financial loss.
If the request is denied, it is believed that the administrators will close down the team, releasing employees and beginning the liquidation process. The administrators have already agreed to pay employee wages until the end of January. It has also been reported that some Manor employees have been recruited to Renault and Toro Rosso under conditional contracts.
Manor Has Potential Deal On The Table
Still No Manor Investor As Season Approaches
Manor Now Under Administration
Ron Dennis Linked To Manor Takeover
Manor Future In Doubt Once Again
