McLaren to bring motor home to all races

Ron Dennis on Sunday sounded confident that McLaren will be able to bring its huge paddock `motor home` - the semi-permanent three storey building officially called Brand Centre - to all European races this year.

Following a recent letter from FIA President Max Mosley to Bernie Ecclestone, a special dispensation for the Anglo-German to slot into the fifth highest garage allocation this year was cancelled after the Malaysian Grand Prix.

“He said `Bernie, I have had a lot of complaints from people saying that you sort of arbitrarily put Ron there which is something you`ve never done before`,” F1 Chief Executive Ecclestone told the Times.

At present, it is not clear if the relocation to the bottom of the pits, due to McLaren`s exclusion from the constructors` championship last year, will apply at all races.

“I haven`t a clue,” team boss Dennis said in Bahrain.

At the state of the art Sakhir circuit, Dennis actually thinks the lower allocation was an advantage, as the drivers could exit the pits without having to swerve around other cards.

But at some of the more traditional circuits, the lesser garages are considerably more cramped than those of the more successful teams.

Less paddock space is also allocated to the lesser teams, moving some observers to wonder if McLaren`s monolithic Brand Centre - weighing in at 18m wide, 14m deep and 9.6m high - will even fit at some of the circuits in 2008.

Dennis said: “I have no reason to believe we won`t use the Brand Centre at all Grand Prix.

“That`s my agreement with Bernie and I see no reason for that to be changed,” he added.

Source: GMM

6.4.2008   ▪ Formula One    ▪ en.f1-live.com

McLaren to bring motor home to all races

Ron Dennis on Sunday sounded confident that McLaren will be able to bring its huge paddock `motor home` - the semi-permanent three storey building officially called Brand Centre - to all European races this year.

Following a recent letter from FIA President Max Mosley to Bernie Ecclestone, a special dispensation for the Anglo-German to slot into the fifth highest garage allocation this year was cancelled after the Malaysian Grand Prix.

“He said `Bernie, I have had a lot of complaints from people saying that you sort of arbitrarily put Ron there which is something you`ve never done before`,” F1 Chief Executive Ecclestone told the Times.

At present, it is not clear if the relocation to the bottom of the pits, due to McLaren`s exclusion from the constructors` championship last year, will apply at all races.

“I haven`t a clue,” team boss Dennis said in Bahrain.

At the state of the art Sakhir circuit, Dennis actually thinks the lower allocation was an advantage, as the drivers could exit the pits without having to swerve around other cards.

But at some of the more traditional circuits, the lesser garages are considerably more cramped than those of the more successful teams.

Less paddock space is also allocated to the lesser teams, moving some observers to wonder if McLaren`s monolithic Brand Centre - weighing in at 18m wide, 14m deep and 9.6m high - will even fit at some of the circuits in 2008.

Dennis said: “I have no reason to believe we won`t use the Brand Centre at all Grand Prix.

“That`s my agreement with Bernie and I see no reason for that to be changed,” he added.

Source: GMM

6.4.2008   ▪ Formula One    ▪ McLaren    ▪ en.f1-live.com