LONDON, England - Haas, the new American F1 team expected to join the circus in 2016, has apparently acquired Marussia's factory in Banbury, England.
Although the cars will be designed and assembled at a plant alongside the Stewart-Haas Nascar team in North Carolina, USA, owner Gene Haas has also been looking for a separate UK base for his F1 outfit.
He told F1 business journalist Christian Sylt in the UK’s The Guardian recently: "I guess it might be a possibility to take a look at the Marussia HQ."
RAY OF HOPE
Racecar Engineering is now reporting that Haas has indeed acquired the plant and has declared an interest in bidding for some of the ailing tail-ender’s assets.
The report added: "It is thought that Haas has also acquired the data and designs for the 2015 Marussia."
It’s a different story, however, for the similarly troubled 2014 tail-ender Caterham whose administrators still hope its team can race on in 2015.
Sky reports that a meeting with creditors on Monday (Dec 21) was promising. Joint administrator Henry Shinners declared afterwards: "Our dialogue with prospective interested parties continues.
"We still hope Caterham F1 can be saved and be on the grid in Melbourne for the first race of 2015."