Greetings my rabid fan base! Since I last dispelled my pearls of wisdom to you, a lot has happened ? and that was only three days ago! Something I?m not going to complain about as I get paid by the article for this job. My non-existent children are been put through college thanks to the work!
First off, let me get serious for a moment and address my previous issue. A certain member who was written about in the previous articles has drawn issue with my sleuthing and some stick over the ethical nature of writing the truth in this day and age of the media. This led to my editor having to come and have a long chat to me about my apparent writing practices and the definition of sleuthing. He asked me to drop trou for some corporal punishment over the matter.
It was at this point I realised that I in fact am my own editor, which probably explains the strange looks I was getting in the airport terminal in Heathrow as I argued with myself over the issue. On the advantages to being my own editor means that I don?t need to go through with my self-advised punishment, which is rather fortuitous, given that my suitcase with my BDSM gear got lost between here and Germany. Some grubby handed bag handler is probably enjoying my unique selection of paddles and whips. I hope you get as much enjoyment out of them as I did you thieving pikey!
Now that I have that unpleasantness out of the way, let us get to the actual serious business. The flood gates opened on this very day for team applications for the 2013 season of the Superleague, it is only right that I focus more on the teams than the drivers in this latest update on the talk of the paddock.
So let us begin with the big news of this week. On Tuesday, Phoenix F1 announced intentions to put forward an application for a Superleague slot for next year. I have to say that when I wrote this, it was a ?WTF? moment. As good at stirring the proverbial pot as I am, I couldn?t make this sort of shit up. Okay, I could, but it might be considered a flight of fancy, (which is why you have yet to read any Mikko Jakonen articles as of yet!)
Even the prospect of Phoenix F1 been back on the grid would be an epic resolution on how things shook out during the 2008 split, particularly for the older members of the community. This is the equivalent of the Indy Racing League and Champ Cars getting back together in their heyday; the fall of the Berlin Wall or even Brett Hart and Shawn Michaels eventually resolving the infamous Montreal Screw job. Heck, even the idea of the Gallagher brothers getting back together seemed more realistic than this scenario.
It adds an interesting dimension as team applications open just hours ago. Phoenix F1 and its owner comes with a rich history within this community and their return only strengthens the community. I for one welcome this. While we forge an exciting new path into the future, maintaining our roots is vital so that we never forget where we came from.
While Graydon and the team has been absent from the GPVWC for the better part of five years, they have continued racing elsewhere to much success. In fact, a number of drivers within the GPVWC have competed for them in different pastures and no doubt Graydon, the shrewd team owner that he is, is already dusting off his rolodex to find potential drivers.
Already, Ollie Woods is said to be worried about the rebirth of Phoenix, with test driver Boyd Bryson heavily linked with a move. The South African, who has enjoyed a good season in the Supercup, has a long standing relationship with the team and is already installed as a heavy favourite to find a role within the team.
Kieran Ryan, who drove for the team in 2005 on his way to second in the championship, is also mooted as a possible candidate, as is Adam Rouse. Perhaps a bit more farfetched, but recently retired double world champion Joe Consiglio, who drove for the team in 2004, could return to the cockpit to aid the team?s new venture. Consiglio often spoke highly of his time with the team and may be tempted, even in a part-time capacity, to return to the team. Such a move would not be unheard of from him after doing selected races around his commitments for Nordsjoen in 2010.
The second piece of gossip which hasn?t escaped my notice involves Australian firebrand, Jamez Shepherd. Since arriving in the community, he has impressed many with his driving and worth ethic, infuriating others with his abrasive nature of dealing with people. If rumours are correct, the man behind alternate strategies on the track is rumoured to be considering one off of it.
Many expect Shepherd to continue in his role at Hawkeye. One team owner even suggested to me that the Australian was going to make an offer to buy full control of the team from artistic guru Ric Scott. It?s a rumour that does have some weight behind it, given that Shepherd has seemingly taken a more increased role in the day-to-day activities of running the outfit as it stands.
However, Shepherd is also said to be exploring other options, including the idea of applying for one of the vacant Superleague spots through his company, SimInk. What raises my furrowed unibrow to this is that he held talks with a leading Supercup team about joining forces for a Superleague venture. Which team, I hear you ask? CSG Racing.
Such a move makes perfect sense. Shepherd arrived at the GPVWC to work within the Midnight Motorsport structure and despite leaving it to blaze his own path; he has maintained good relations with the team. He has recently returned to the fold at Supercup level to aid their title challenge against Torrent Motorsports.
The expertise of CSG Racing coupled with the determination and technical knowledge of Shepherd may be the dream ticket as teams apply for open slots. It may be a move that benefits Midnight themselves, even from the outset it would appear they are losing their Supercup partner. A fully sponsored team could provide the perfect place for Alex Cooper to enter the Superleague in 2013 without the pressures that he would face with Midnight.
Sounds like a win-win, doesn?t it? Or perhaps it really is too good to be true. Either way, you can expect Shepherd to be analysing every available option in front of him heading towards the new season.
