Rumours persist that the Ford Motor Company is preparing to sever all links with Formula 1 at the end of the 2003 season. The company which owns the Jaguar Racing Team and engine builder Cosworth has been an ardent supporter of F1 racing for a number of years. However, with economic pressures damaging the Blue Oval's international interests, sporting activities may be scaled back in the coming months.
Hot on the heels of substantial cost cutting at Ford's World Rally Team, senior management sacked Niki Lauda at the end of November as boss of Jaguar Racing and their Premier Performance Division.
Rumours suggest that the replacement of Lauda by Tony Purnell and Jackie Stewart is a precursor to Ford selling the team, but not the Jaguar name, to outside buyers led by Stewart. This would represent a major U-turn for the company after having invested millions in the team since its emergence in 1999. But with Jaguar performances still extremely disappointing, withdrawing may be in the best interests of Ford financially and in terms of minimising the damage inflicted upon this prestige brand.
Removal of Jaguar Racing from F1 would drastically reduce Ford's involvement in F1. Without Jaguar their involvement would be limited to their customer supply deal with Jordan and the supply of Cosworth engines. But with Jordan's future uncertain, Arrows barred from re-entering F1 and few other teams seeking customer Cosworth power plants, 2003 is shaping up to be the perfect time for Ford to make a clean break.
Pressure on Ford's F1 interests has increased in recent weeks with the agreement of a deal to become the sole supplier to the CART series in 2003. The deal to supply engines for the entire grid is a major undertaking for Ford but is seen as a means to halt sliding sales in North America. Some believe that the pressing need for Ford to raise sales in this region and the need to cut costs across the board will see their interests in America maintained at the expense of other international activities, including F1.
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