U.S. Businessman Gene Haas Reportedly Acquires Marussia F1 Team's Former Base

U.S. businessman Gene Haas has "reportedly purchased Marussia's former base in Banbury after it went up for sale following the collapse of the team," according to THE F1 TIMES. Haas said that his initial plans were to base the "entire team in North Carolina" next to his NASCAR base, but "later admitted" a U.K. base would be necessary for race preparation. It has been reported that Haas "took ownership of the Marussia factory as well as 'data and designs' for their 2015 car which was already well developed with a scale wind-tunnel model included in the auction." The intellectual data would give Haas a "good stepping stone to build on for 2016 when his all-American outfit is set to join the grid" (THE F1 TIMES, 12/24).