F1: Virgin Replaces Team Boss

Formula 1

F1: Virgin Replaces Team Boss

Virgin Racing has yet to enter a Formula One event and already changes are afoot...

Adam Cooper | http://www.speedtv.com | Posted January 12, 2010 GMM Newswire

Virgin employee Alex Tai was appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of fledgling F1 team Virgin Racing Grand Prix team in Sepetember last year. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Alex Tai has been replaced as Virgin Racing team principal by John Booth, the man who founded the Manor Motorsport team and originally kick started the F1 project.

Alex Tai (Center) was replaced by John Booth (Right) at Virgin Racing Tuesday. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Booth had held the role of sporting director, while his long time business partner Graeme Lowdown has changed jobs from director of racing to CEO.

Tai’s appointment was exclusively revealed on this website in September. A former RAF and 747 pilot, he is one of Richard Branson’s key lieutenants and has also been involved in the Galactic space travel project.

The team has put out a press release indicating that all is well and implying that the change was planned, but for the boss to be removed two months before the first race makes no sense at all, and it’s clear that there has been a major disturbance in the camp.

Tai had a high profile at the team’s launch in London only last month, but observers questioned his suitability for the role, taking into account his total lack of experience in motor sport.

Virgin’s strategy is to use its name to attract major outside sponsorship rather than underwrite the whole show in the style of Red Bull. It remains to be seen whether that actually works.

In the statement Etienne de Villiers, Chairman of Virgin Racing, said: “John’s impressive racing pedigree and reputation is beyond question in the critical role of Team Principal. John will be joined by Graeme Lowdon as CEO who previously held the position of Director of Racing. He was one of the founders of the original Manor Grand Prix team and a key architect of its successful formation last year. Graeme has a proven track record with Manor Grand Prix and is a formidable operator with an excellent reputation in the sport. Their combined experience and expertise make them the ideal candidates to lead the Virgin Racing team as we head into an exciting first season.

"These appointments reflect our long-term commitment to fully addressing the complexity and challenges of the new business and to creating a team with the appropriate skills and experience to ensure its sustainable success.

“We knew this day was coming but we are still sorry to see Alex move on from his executive duties. He will continue in his role as Director of Special Projects for Virgin and will retain a close relationship with the team. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Alex for his support, energy and commitment from the outset and we look forward to his continued contribution to the business.”

Alex Tai was quoted as saying: “Finding new opportunities and the challenge of starting new ventures is where my focus and interest lies. I am proud that we have taken the team from concept to reality in a short period of time and I am confident that Virgin Racing will be in trusted and experienced hands.”

Photos: Virgin Racing Launch

Adam Cooper notched up his 25th season as a racing journalist in 2009. Born in London, England, he saw his first F1 race at age 10 in 1976. He began freelancing for Autosport magazine in 1985 and was on the fulltime staff from 1987-92. He then went freelance again, initially spending two years in Japan before following the 1994 Champcar series from a base in Indianapolis. He has not missed a Grand Prix since Suzuka ‘94, a run that has extended to Abu Dhabi ’09. Adam has written books about Eddie Irvine, Piers Courage and Michael Schumacher and hosts a race preview show on Sirius XM. He has written about F1 for SPEEDtv.com since 2005.