[markus5a]

nothing special, but anywazs:

it has just been announced that gerhard berger has bought 50% percent of scuderia torro rosso.

in the same statement it's also been said that red bulld also accquired 50% of bergers logistics company.


for those who unterstand german:
Announcement

[monza gorilla]

Scuderia Toro Rosso has a new 50 percent partner, effective immediately: half the shares of the Italian Formula One team have been taken over by Gerhard Berger’s motorsport company.

The 46-year-old Tyrolean is contributing his entire personal knowledge and experience of Formula One, accumulated over two decades, to the fledgling racing team: between 1984 and 1997 he competed in 210 Formula One races, finishing among the top three in 48 races and winning ten times.

From 1998 to 2003 Berger was Motorsport Director at BMW, where his successes included winning the Le Mans 24 Hours, Sebring 12 Hours and leading BMW to the front of the Formula One premier class in 2000, the year of its comeback.

50 percent of the shares of Berger’s shipping company are also changing hands: they will be transferred to Red Bull. The new joint shipping company will be involved as appropriate when assigning worldwide logistics contracts for freight and transport.

Gerhard Berger will be personally involved in the activities of Scuderia Toro Rosso and be available in an advisory capacity with regard to Red Bull’s overall Formula One engagement.

These mutual partnerships are based on the strong longstanding relationship between Gerhard Berger and Dietrich Mateschitz.

Gerhard Berger
“Three birds with one stone! The involvement of a company like Red Bull is an important milestone for the Berger shipping company and for its successful future development. On the other hand, I am aware that my Formula One know-how is very much valued by Red Bull in general and by the Italian Toro Rosso team in particular. Last but not least I’m looking forward to not only continuing to have a great time with Dietrich Mateschitz, but also to being able to implement serious and visionary business developments together in the future.”

Dietrich Mateschitz
“I have known and admired Gerhard for twenty years. 18 years ago, he was the first top athlete to drink Red Bull and therefore to make a significant contribution to our growth and to the brand in Austria. I am particularly pleased that we will now be able to take advantage of the synergies that undoubtedly exist between us also for joint business activities.”

[Moose11]

I've always liked Berger. He was a pretty successful driver on the track and has done well off it also. I really hope things work out here for him!

[pumpdoc]

Good news!!!

[monza gorilla]

Yep. I agree. He's proved he's a decent businessman over the years, I wish him all the best.

[pumpdoc]

monza gorilla, on Feb 9 2006, 07:45 AM, said:

Yep. I agree. He's proved he's a decent businessman over the years, I wish him all the best.

This is a smart move by D.M. and it can only lead to rising fortunes for Toro rosso I hope............

[Senna]

Moose11, on Feb 9 2006, 02:32 PM, said:

I've always liked Berger. He was a pretty successful driver on the track and has done well off it also. I really hope things work out here for him!

Indeed he was.

[cristiano84]

I'd like to see him as team manager also...

[Senna]

cristiano84, on Feb 9 2006, 07:02 PM, said:

I'd like to see him as team manager also...

He’ll have a big influence as it is…

[JayStorm]

Great news there, I agree.

He's certainly got a lot to give, and i'm sure with his knowledge he'll be very successful.

[ecapdeville]

He could start changing the team´s horrible name...

[nojvnof1]

Great to see Gerhard back in the paddock. He was a great character but more importantly is a very good businessman. A very smart move by Mateschitz, I wish them well.

[narain fan]

Toro Rosso Purchase Hashed Out Over a Drink


New formula one team co-owner Gerhard Berger has denied suggestions that he could test the Scuderia Toro Rosso car.

Although the 46-year-old Austrian contested 210 grands prix - winning ten - between 1984 and 1997, he ruled out leaping into the new STR01 racer's c#ckpit.

''Not at my age,'' Berger laughed to Switzerland's Blick newspaper.





He also revealed that the STR deal with Dietrich Mateschitz was not his only opportunity to return to the grand prix pitlane since hanging up his BMW chief's hat in 2003.

Berger said: ''I received many offers to become a director in large teams. But I am an entrepreneur, so I want to have some fun too.''

He said his fifty per cent purchase of Toro Rosso was hashed out over a drink in Salzburg with his long time friend, Mateschitz.

''Didi said to me, 'I want to buy half of your (shipping) company','' Berger told Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, ''I replied 'then I want to buy half of Toro Rosso. So we did it!''

Berger will definitely attend the opening grand prix of 2006, in Bahrain.



paddocktalk.com

[jemstride]

ecapdeville, on Feb 9 2006, 11:35 PM, said:

He could start changing the team´s horrible name...

I agree. But only because I'm used to having everything in English and I don't like having to say 'Toro Rosso' sounds silly! Maybe 'red bull' sounds silly to italians

[Senna]

ecapdeville, on Feb 9 2006, 11:35 PM, said:

He could start changing the team´s horrible name...

Indeed. Although there are worse monikers around at the moment, to my great displeasure…

[cavallino]

ecapdeville, on Feb 10 2006, 10:35 AM, said:

He could start changing the team´s horrible name...

I am not so sure, if you leave out the scuderia part, as it is left out for Ferrari, Toro Rosso doesn't sound bad. There are clumsier monikers around.

[narain fan]

cavallino, on Feb 14 2006, 01:11 AM, said:

I am not so sure, if you leave out the scuderia part, as it is left out for Ferrari, Toro Rosso doesn't sound bad. There are clumsier monikers around.

Johnie Walker Mclaren Mercedes

[nojvnof1]

Johnnie Walker don't have title sponsorship.