Manor F1 Program Shuts Down Ahead of 2017 Season

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief

The Manor F1 team will not return to the Formula 1 grid in 2017 after failing to find a buyer upon falling into administration.

Just Racing Services Limited, the operating company of the Manor F1 program, ceased trading just five days following Formula 1 going under new ownership. The deadline for a new buyer – despite attracting some interest – has come and gone, which left FRP Advisory no choice but to shut the program down due to “no sustainable operational or financial structure in place to maintain the Group as a going concern.”

“It is deeply regrettable that the team has had to cease trading and close its doors,” said FRP administrator Geoff Rowley.

“Manor is a great name in British motorsport and the team has achieved a great deal over the past two years, invigorated under new ownership.

“Operating and running a F1 team to the high standards demanded, however, requires significant ongoing investment. Just Racing Services Limited was put into administration at the start of January shortly after attempts to sell the business fell through at the last hurdle.

“The administration process provided a moratorium to allow for attempts to secure a long-term viable solution for the team within in a very limited time frame but sadly no solution could be achieved to allow for the business to continue in its current form within what was a very tight time frame.”

A possibility still exists that Manor Grand Prix Racing Ltd. – the sister company that isn’t under administration and holds a license to compete in F1 – could swoop in for the remaining assets and create an entirely new team, however, that in all likelihood is a long shot to put together with the preseason testing just around the corner.

About Joey Barnes 597 Articles
Joey Barnes is the Founder of Motorsports Tribune, an outlet that began with the goal of helping aspiring journalists break into and grow the industry. A regular on the racing scene since 2013, the journey for Joey started by covering a Grand-Am event at Circuit of The Americas in his home state of Texas. He has since primarily focused on the IndyCar Series, with appearances in the garages of NASCAR, paddocks of Formula 1, IMSA and World Endurance Championship, while also occasionally engulfing clouds of dust at the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals and select Supercross rounds. With previous stops at Autoweek, IndyCar.com, Motorsport.com and RACER, among others, Joey evolved from the singular task as a freelance writer to advanced roles behind the copy desk and alongside some of the best editorial teams in the business. Recognized as a multi-time award winner by the National Motorsports Press Association, Joey currently resides in Dallas-Fort Worth with his trusty four-legged canine companion, Rocket.

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