The GPVWC Rumour Mill reported increasing speculation that two big Superleague teams might see their future threatened - with their very survival under close observation.
The teams, believed by many to be Draig Racing and Synergetic Motorsport, might join a list of strugglers whose 2013 presence on the grid is not guaranteed - and with several strong contenders waiting in the wings, sponsors and other backers might jump ship to one of the new outfits.
Championship contenders Draig Racing have a checked history that saw them build very competitive cars, but fail to reap results due to shortcomings on the managerial side. Team Owner Mike Phillis is widely reputed to be one of the best in the GPVWC to bring together a good package of chassis, engine and driver, but in the past few years financial mismanagement (in 2011) and R&D blunders (in 2010) prevented even the talented Lee Morris to claim the ultimate prize.
Despite a good pre-season this year, Phillis's absence for most of the 2012 Championship due to personal issues saw the team appear rudderless, resulting in star driver Morris - who had been acting as de-facto manager until then, departing the team after providing 85 of the team's 91 points. Economic woes that threatened the team's survival in 2011 appear to have subsided, but many of the team backers might start to worry about what is increasingly seen as the team's inability to deliver on its promises.
In Synergetic Motorsport's case, managerial absence mixes up with a budget line that, according to unofficial reports, is starting to look dangerously thin. Acting team manager Ojay Clark's departure mid-season aggravated the situation that came up after long-time owner Mal McKee's leave early in the year, and the team is rumoured to be near to the moment in which a loan from GPVWC Bank might be needed.
Synergetic - a long-standing name in the GPVWC, having first appeared in 2006 - suffered greatly from McKee's cyclical departures, and its backers are questioning seriously whether their money is to be wisely invested in the team for what already promises to be a highly competitive 2013 season. With their Supercup team still in decent shape, the team might elect to spend some time in the sidelines to rebuild a convincing outfit before returning to the Superleague with new spirits.
The last few races of the season will see far more than just points at stakes for these two outfits as they try to convince their backers, the GPVWC Administration and themselves of their desire to remain part of the Superleague for the forseeable future.
