From GMM
A leaked email has confirmed that Richard Branson’s (photo) Virgin Group has decided to buy a share of the new Manor formula one team. However, team director John Booth would not confirm this report on Friday.
Sir Richard Branson's brand currently backs Brawn GP but the British billionaire suggested recently that the success of the team in 2009 had sent its 2010 sponsorship price too high.
We reported last week that Virgin may already have signed a deal to re-name and possibly buy into the new 2010 entrant Manor, which involves FIA president Max Mosley's former Simtek colleague Nick Wirth.
Recent reports indicated that Mosley's FIA representative at grands prix and chief steward Alan Donnelly may also be involved, confirmed now in the pages of the Guardian newspaper.
An email authored by Donnelly indicates that the Virgin-Manor linkup was in place even before Manor was selected to join fellow new teams US F1 and Campos on the 2010 grid.
Donnelly wrote: "Virgin have signed to be investment partners with a shareholding of around 20 per cent."
Donnelly's questionable neutrality is also likely to return to the spotlight due to his arranging of meetings with Manor officials and a member of the Saudi royal family.
His email, attached to a draft Manor sponsorship and investment agreement, goes on: "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.
"However if you would like a pre-meeting with me privately on Sunday then please let me know," Donnelly added.
But 24 hours later this news came up, Manor Grand Prix chief John Booth would not confirm the report.
But while confirming that funding has been in place for several months, Booth is not ready to confirm the Virgin speculation, and denied that an equity sale has been agreed.
"The Virgin link is just speculation and I couldn't really comment on it for legal reasons, and it is unhelpful to speculate about Virgin," he told the Yorkshire Post.
photo:WRI2
A leaked email has confirmed that Richard Branson’s (photo) Virgin Group has decided to buy a share of the new Manor formula one team. However, team director John Booth would not confirm this report on Friday.
Sir Richard Branson's brand currently backs Brawn GP but the British billionaire suggested recently that the success of the team in 2009 had sent its 2010 sponsorship price too high.
We reported last week that Virgin may already have signed a deal to re-name and possibly buy into the new 2010 entrant Manor, which involves FIA president Max Mosley's former Simtek colleague Nick Wirth.
Recent reports indicated that Mosley's FIA representative at grands prix and chief steward Alan Donnelly may also be involved, confirmed now in the pages of the Guardian newspaper.
An email authored by Donnelly indicates that the Virgin-Manor linkup was in place even before Manor was selected to join fellow new teams US F1 and Campos on the 2010 grid.
Donnelly wrote: "Virgin have signed to be investment partners with a shareholding of around 20 per cent."
Donnelly's questionable neutrality is also likely to return to the spotlight due to his arranging of meetings with Manor officials and a member of the Saudi royal family.
His email, attached to a draft Manor sponsorship and investment agreement, goes on: "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.
"However if you would like a pre-meeting with me privately on Sunday then please let me know," Donnelly added.
But 24 hours later this news came up, Manor Grand Prix chief John Booth would not confirm the report.
But while confirming that funding has been in place for several months, Booth is not ready to confirm the Virgin speculation, and denied that an equity sale has been agreed.
"The Virgin link is just speculation and I couldn't really comment on it for legal reasons, and it is unhelpful to speculate about Virgin," he told the Yorkshire Post.
photo:WRI2