Rio Approaches Private Companies for Financial Support to F1
14 February 2016 11:06 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian GP2 racer Rio Haryanto is in negotiation with three private companies to sponsor his debut in Formula 1 with Manor Racing. The 23-year-old has until the last week of February to pay the first installment of race operational fee trequired by Manor Racing for Rio to join the team.
The first installment is €3 million from the total of €15 million. It is said that the operational fee should be pain in five installments. The first installment was actually due on December 20 but Manor Racing is still waiting for Rio to join.
“We keep trying,” Rio said when he visited Tempo on Saturday, February 13.
“Hopefully the private sectors can help us, considering that we dont have to go through complicated bureaucracy.”
“I’m also surprised with the tolerance shown by Manor.”
Rio believes that Manor’s willingness to wait shows that the team is highly interested to recruit him. Rio has shown a bright performance in GP2 last year. Manor is keeping one seat for Rio in the team after signing Germany;s Pascal Wehrlein on Wednesday.
Manor finished last in Formula 1 last season but Rio’s manager, Piers Hunnisett said that the team is preparing to improve performance this season.
GADI MAKITAN
