September 22, 2004
Since everybody knows that Buchan, Loram and Whiteman will probably leave EiRE at the end of 2004, there are a lot of rumours about who will drive for EiRE in 2005.

Because Whiteman did not participate at Monza, he did not have any chance to win the 2004 drivers championship anymore and with no chance for the constructor?s title this season, EiRE looks a bit lost. But nothing of this is true; EiRE will still be there in 2005. But with whom? Will Whiteman stay, or will he retire from F1VWC like everybody expects?

Ponissi: ?I cannot tell you anything until the end of 2004, because we do not know anything for sure yet? If Whiteman will even be back this season to drive the last three GP?s, is still not sure. We will all definitely miss his fast lap times and great racing if he would really retire after this tremendous season.

Ross Loram has been a very trustful driver for EiRE Jaguar. First he would be replaced by Daan van Renswoude after the German GP, but with van Renswoude definitely not making his full return to F1VWC, Loram climbed back into the car. At the Italian GP Loram should again have been replaced, this time by Martin Buchan, and finally be able to fully concentrate on his GPC championship, but with Whiteman?s steering wheel problems, he (again) climbed back into the car to do another GP for EiRE.

Despite the fact that Ponissi and Williams are very pleased with Loram?s services for EiRE this season, they will most likely see him leave the team as well. Loram has already said several times that he would rather retire from F1VWC, than come back in 2005. Although his results in GPC are very promising, Loram thinks this league is too fast for him and will probably retire at the end of 2004.

Martin Buchan will drive the second EiRE for the remaining 2004 season and already said that, because of his connection with JPR Racing, he will not stay for 2005. That would already mean that at least three drivers will leave EiRE at the end of 2004.

Is there still hope for EiRE in 2005? Ofcourse there is! EiRE still has Andreas Wagner and ofcourse their test driver Peter Grooff. Wagner is loaned to Puma F1 this season, but might come back to EiRE next year. Ponissi said: ?Wagner might come back to EiRE next year and might even climb into a race car, but as we do no know who will and who won?t leave at the end of this season, we do not know anything for sure until decisions are being made.? Several times there were talks that Grooff would replace Loram d uring the current season, but every time Grooff declined the offer. Everything looks like he will stay with EiRE in 2005, but still as a Test Driver.

Grooff told us that: ?Nothing has been decided yet, no talks for a race seat with me at the moment though. As far as I am concerned, I will stay with EiRE as test driver in 2005, ?cause I will still not have the time for a race seat next year.? Ofcourse ?silly season? has already begun and rumours are circulating around the paddock. At this point is seems that Paul Sleight and Jan Kelder are in the running for a race seat, but what about Peter Van Oostende or Shane Cotter?? These are all just rumours, but maybe its all true.

Possibly Whiteman and Loram retire from F1VWC, Paul Sleight takes the first race seat and Jan Kelder fills the second, with Peter Grooff still as test driver the only question will be: where is Wagner going?? Ponissi, as always, has lots of plans with his team for 2005 and tells us: ?I have some other secret weapon, but that is to remain secret. ? As we can all see, it?s all still just a big puzzle, and only at the first race in 2005 all the pieces will fall into their place. Than we will know for sure who is driving where.

More news soon.