Direxiv
Encyclopedia
Direxiv was a company with motorsport
links to the GP2 Series
, a series which is closely linked to Formula One
and future drivers in F1 are likely to have raced in GP2. Direxiv had submitted an entry to run a Formula 1 team in 2008
onwards, although they faced tough competition from other companies as Carlin Motorsport
, Eddie Jordan
, Paul Stoddart
and current GP2 team Racing Engineering
. Direxiv lost out on the chance to gain entry to the 2008 season when the FIA chose to give the entries to the current 11 teams and David Richards
' Prodrive
taking the final spot.
The team was also involved in Super GT
and Formula Nippon
, and sponsor McLaren in F1 as well as former McLaren and former WilliamsF1
driver Alexander Wurz
.
Direxiv were linked with creating a "McLaren B Team" which, in could have given the then-GP2 racer Lewis Hamilton
(who has now been promoted to the McLaren team itself) and possibly either Pedro de la Rosa
or Gary Paffett
a race drive in F1. Former F1 driver Jean Alesi
was also working with the Direxiv squad in their attempts. However, after the 2006 French GP, Dave Richards who had his entry to the 2008 F1 season accepted, announced that he was looking to bring his Prodrive team into F1 as the McLaren B Team. This brought an end to the dream of a Direxiv McLaren B Team, but due to a change in FIA rules, it seems that the Prodrive Mclaren B team will now not happen. Therefore even if the Direxiv entry had been accepted, and Direxiv were to still exist, their F1 dream would not have materialised.
In August 2006, Direxiv announced that they will pull out of the Super GT due to the loss of their primary backer, Akiyama Holdings. The Suzuka 1000km
was their last race in the series.
, in the British F3 International Series
and is the title sponsor for German driver Maro Engel
.
Motorsport
Motorsport or motorsports is the group of sports which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles, whether for racing or non-racing competition...
links to the GP2 Series
GP2 Series
The GP2 Series, GP2 for short, is a form of open wheel motor racing introduced in 2005 following the discontinuation of the long-term Formula One feeder series, Formula 3000. The format was conceived by Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, while Ecclestone also has the rights to the name GP1...
, a series which is closely linked to Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
and future drivers in F1 are likely to have raced in GP2. Direxiv had submitted an entry to run a Formula 1 team in 2008
2008 Formula One season
The 2008 Formula One season was the 59th FIA Formula One World Championship season. It began on 16 March and ended on 2 November with eighteen Grand Prix races....
onwards, although they faced tough competition from other companies as Carlin Motorsport
Carlin Motorsport
Carlin, formerly Carlin Motorsport, is a motor racing team based in the United Kingdom. It competes in four championships — British Formula Three Championship, GP3 Series, World Series by Renault and GP2 Series.-History:...
, Eddie Jordan
Eddie Jordan
Edmund "Eddie" Jordan also known as "EJ" founded and owned Jordan Grand Prix, a Formula One constructor which operated from 1991 to 2005...
, Paul Stoddart
Paul Stoddart
Paul Stoddart, born 26 May 1955, is an Australian millionaire airline magnate, and former owner of the Minardi Formula One racing team. He later took the Minardi brand into the Champ Car World Series after his purchase of a portion of CTE-HVM Racing which he renamed Minardi Team USA for 2007.-Early...
and current GP2 team Racing Engineering
Racing Engineering
Racing Engineering is a Spanish racing team founded in 1999 by Alfonso de Orléans-Borbón. The team's headquarters are located in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, near Jerez, in a state-of-the-art factory, where all car preparation and race team organization is based....
. Direxiv lost out on the chance to gain entry to the 2008 season when the FIA chose to give the entries to the current 11 teams and David Richards
David Richards (racing)
David Pender Richards CBE is the chairman of Prodrive and Aston Martin, and a former team principal of the BAR and Benetton Formula One motor racing teams. He lives with his wife, Karen, in Warwickshire and has three children....
' Prodrive
Prodrive
Prodrive is a British motorsport and automotive engineering group based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, England. It designs, constructs and races cars for companies and teams such as Subaru, Aston Martin and Ford...
taking the final spot.
The team was also involved in Super GT
Super GT
The Super GT series, formerly known as the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship or JGTC , is a grand touring car race series promoted by the GT-Association...
and Formula Nippon
Formula Nippon
Formula Nippon is a type of formula racing and the top level of single-seater racing in Japan.Formula Nippon evolved from the Japanese Formula 2000 series begun in 1973 by way of the Japanese Formula Two and Japanese Formula 3000 championships...
, and sponsor McLaren in F1 as well as former McLaren and former WilliamsF1
WilliamsF1
Williams Grand Prix Engineering Limited, trading as AT&T Williams, is a British Formula One motor racing team and constructor. It was founded and run by Sir Frank Williams and Patrick Head...
driver Alexander Wurz
Alexander Wurz
Alexander Wurz is an Austrian racing driver. He competed in Formula One from until , and is also a two-time winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours....
.
Direxiv were linked with creating a "McLaren B Team" which, in could have given the then-GP2 racer Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton, MBE is a British Formula One racing driver from England, currently racing for the McLaren team. He was the Formula One World Champion.Hamilton was born in Stevenage, Hertfordshire...
(who has now been promoted to the McLaren team itself) and possibly either Pedro de la Rosa
Pedro de la Rosa
Pedro Martínez de la Rosa is a Formula One driver who has participated in 87 Grands Prix for the Arrows, Jaguar, McLaren and Sauber teams, debuting on 7 March 1999, becoming one of very few drivers to score a point at his first race...
or Gary Paffett
Gary Paffett
Gary Paffett is a British racing driver in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters. He is also a test driver for the McLaren Formula One team. Paffett progressed through the ranks of karting and junior formulae in the United Kingdom, winning the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award in 1999...
a race drive in F1. Former F1 driver Jean Alesi
Jean Alesi
Jean Alesi is a French racing driver of Italian origin. His Formula One career included spells at Tyrrell, Benetton, Sauber, Prost, Jordan and most notably Ferrari where he proved very popular among the tifosi...
was also working with the Direxiv squad in their attempts. However, after the 2006 French GP, Dave Richards who had his entry to the 2008 F1 season accepted, announced that he was looking to bring his Prodrive team into F1 as the McLaren B Team. This brought an end to the dream of a Direxiv McLaren B Team, but due to a change in FIA rules, it seems that the Prodrive Mclaren B team will now not happen. Therefore even if the Direxiv entry had been accepted, and Direxiv were to still exist, their F1 dream would not have materialised.
In August 2006, Direxiv announced that they will pull out of the Super GT due to the loss of their primary backer, Akiyama Holdings. The Suzuka 1000km
Suzuka 1000km
The 1000 km Suzuka is an annual 1000-kilometer endurance race for sports cars held at the Suzuka Circuit . It is a round of the Japanese Super GT championship....
was their last race in the series.
GP2
Direxiv has their logo on several cars in the 2006 GP2 field this includes:- DPR Direxiv Team (Direxiv title sponsors)
- ART Grand PrixART Grand PrixLotus ART is a French motor racing team that competes in formula single-seaters in Europe. It was founded as ART Grand Prix in 1991.-Creation:...
- BCN CompeticionBCN CompeticionOcean Racing Technology is a racing team that takes part in both the GP2 Main Series and the GP2 Asia Series Championships. The team, owned by Tiago Monteiro and José Guedes, was formed at the end of the 2008 season after being purchased from BCN, a team which never enjoyed much success in GP2...
British Formula 3
Direxiv partners competitors for the 2008 F1 grid spot, Carlin MotorsportCarlin Motorsport
Carlin, formerly Carlin Motorsport, is a motor racing team based in the United Kingdom. It competes in four championships — British Formula Three Championship, GP3 Series, World Series by Renault and GP2 Series.-History:...
, in the British F3 International Series
British Formula Three Championship
The British Formula Three Championship is an international motor racing series that takes place primarily in the United Kingdom with a small number of events in mainland Europe. It is a junior-level feeder formula that uses small single seater Formula Three chassis. Its current official title is...
and is the title sponsor for German driver Maro Engel
Maro Engel
Maro Engel is a German racing driver, now residing in Monaco. He currently competes in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters championship.- Early career :...
.