Manor: Glock has the potential to build a team

Tuesday 24th November 2009

Manor GP team boss John Booth believes the recently-signed Timo Glock has the ability to "build a team around him."

Last week, Manor GP confirmed that Glock would be joining them for the 2010 Championship after the German turned down "several offers" with more established team.

"The wonderful thing about Timo was that he came over to meet everybody and it was not hours and hours of negotiation and selling to him what we could do. He just bought into the concept straightaway - and made his decision almost immediately," he told Autosport.

"We had to finalise contracts and things, but he liked what he saw and wanted to be part of it. So somebody of his experience and quality, wanting to be part of it, not just an employee, is great. He wanted to build a team around him is as he put it.

"It is a fantastic boost for Timo to believe in us like he does."

Q. Does that surprise you - because Renault was chasing him quite hard and he could have gone to a team fighting for race wins for the off?

But despite being thrilled with the 27-year-old's decision to join Manor, Booth admits it did come as a "surprise" as Glock was also being persued by Renault.

"It is a little bit of a surprise, but now getting to know him better, you can see why he has done it. I think it tells you a lot about him," he said when asked about Glock

The German's team-mate has yet to be confirmed, however, at present Lucas di Grassi is the favourite to take the second Manor GP race-seat.

"Hopefully in the next two weeks," Booth said when asked about the timeframe for announcing their second driver.

"Lucas would be great for a number of reasons. He is an ex-Manor driver anyway. He won here in Macau for us.

"It would be great for us to have Lucas, and he has F1 testing experience as well in F1. Somebody like Lucas would be perfect."

Your Comments

DamonHill

"Well lets see last 20 years of F1 how many new commers really made their mark... Jordan, Sauber, Stewart ....? I am not counting manufacturers od course that's a different funny story. But Sure Manor GP with Timo Glock at the helm will break through the midfiled like thunderbolt. YEP YEP Much better chice than Renault. "

mrkjf

"Timo has made the right decision,imagine signing for Renault then half way through the season and the ban thats looming over them takes place.Hope not be there you go."