British Prime Minister David Cameron has been to visit the Caterham Group’s Leafield Technical Centre, the home of the Caterham F1 team in recent months. The factory is located in Cameron’s Witney constituency.
“This is the dream investment for any constituency,” he said. “Caterham F1 is bringing high-end jobs, engineering and manufacturing to West Oxfordshire. Not only will it create jobs but it will be a real boost to our local economy. On a national scale, it is great to see Britain designing and selling more cars. It is businesses like this which are helping to lift our economy out of a very difficult time and making sure that Britain thrives in the global race. I am so excited to welcome this great business to Leafield and I wish them every success.”
Tony Fernandes, Caterham Group Co-Chairman: “It was an honour to give Mr Cameron a tour of Leafield Technical Centre and to demonstrate the cutting edge technology and innovative thinking that is at the heart of Caterham Group. Representatives from each of the arms of Caterham Group were on hand to demonstrate to Mr Cameron how Caterham Cars, Caterham Technology and Innovation (CTI) and Caterham Composites are setting new standards for innovative thinking and cutting edge technology across a wide range of industries.
“Caterham Cars and Caterham Technology and Innovation are now working in close partnership with Renault to produce a new range of sportscars that will soon showcase our world class technology to automotive customers worldwide. CTI and Caterham Composites are also in a very exciting phase of their development. Both companies are working across a wide range of industries, including automotive, aircraft, marine, sports and leisure, bringing their specialist knowledge of innovative technological solutions and composite materials to set new standards in their fields.”
Tony Fernandes seems to know how to run a company, that Mallaya clown could take some lessons from Tony.
I guess “seems to know” is an understatement given the scale of his success with almost anything he’s touched. Man’s a business champ! And I can’t say I totally disagree with the latter part of your statement either.
Joe, thought you were doing some stuff with the team at Caterham? any news.
No. I do things with the car company. The first I heard about the PM’s visit was when I got the press release.
Interesting. When I heard about the visit yesterday I thought you would have been there to cover it. Would have made sense if you had…
Not really. It is not really an F1 story, interesting though it may be as it illustrates that the team is well-connected.
Joe,
I would love to know more about the Technical centre as I think I am a little confused here. Is Leafield the site of the F1 factory – as I understand it the old Arrows and Super Aguri Factory – and also the research centre for the Car and Composite parts of the business? Is the plan to move production of the road cars to Leafield as well?
Leafield is the F1 Team. The car company is still in Dartford and the other stuff is up in Norfolk.
Are the Lotus Team – Enstone – In the PM’s constituency too?
Yes
I believe it is in the same constituency.
My be Williams as well?
The MP for Milton Keynes rubbed it in that his F1 team had beaten the PM’s at one PMQ this year.
The two teams are about 10 minutes from each other
Good that the PM took time out from his brown tongeuing the Royals over some perfectly sensible comments about vacuous Middleton.
‘…perfectly sensible comments…’ ha ha, pot, kettle, black!
Someone has to defend those that cannot defend themselves.
Mon Pen should think before writing.
Is that a low or high profile rim????
What is the car in the photo? It looks like a (racing) prototype sportscar What series is it designed for? Or is it just a trackday car?
Caterham SP/300 R.
On a bit of a tangent along the lines of politicians and F1 – you might be interested in this doco on Berlusconi – it has an interview with Luca Di Montezmolo and has some of polictical views
http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/content/2013/s3693916.htm
I bet the original caterham employees cant believe their luck having a gem of a boss as tony fernandes. he has a lot of business savy. Well done i have a lot of respect for that company and f1 team
I doubt qpr fans would agree..a self professed west ham fan buys team and relegation imminent..self professed team lotus fan goes to court then wins only to give in and turn to caterham..very good with airlines though so fair play..all tongue in cheek as do look forward to the caterham/Renault alpine if anything like one at goodwood F.O.S