Rory Byrne calls it a day

[Gt_R]

The best car designer in recent years, father to many successful racers, Rory Byrne has decided and inform Ferrari that he would not longer extent his contract after his current contract ends in 2007.

From TheScuderia.Net
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Rory signals his intentions to Ferrari 11/05/04

Ferrari’s Chief Designer Rory Byrne has told the Ferrari team that he will not be extending his current contract, which ends at the beginning of 2007. Byrne however is expected to take up a consultancy role within the team.

Rory’s decision to not extend his contract beyond 2007 could be seen as a blow to Ferrari and also the beginning of the end for the Ferrari dream team, which has gained us so much success in recent years. But Ferrari will have to move on and with Rory making them aware of his intentions well before the day arrives it had given them amble time to prepare for his departure from his role.

Byrne was lured out of retirement by Ferrari in 1997, after he had already decided to leave the sport and start a scuba-diving business. He will have given the Scuderia a great ten years of his services by 2007 and for that we can be thankful. His working ethics and experience will surely have been passed down the line in Maranello and those below him will have learned a lot about what it takes to make a title winning car.

2007 may seem like a long time away at the moment, but you can be sure Ferrari are already looking at replacements, however the good thing is that Rory will not be leaving to join another team and he can continue to work with the team right up to February 2007, which means the 2008 chassis should still be under his leadership.
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Well, it's kind of expected that sooner or later, this partnership of the most brilliant people in F1 would come to and end... and 2007 seem to be the date.

Well done to Bryne.He had succeeded in bringing Ferrari success and Ferrari fans are thankful for his great contributions, building cars not only fast, but equally beautiful.

[climb]

Importan, albeit not surprising news, we all knew Rory would have done it sooner or later. Furthermore he'll stay at Ferrari, thus it just seem a way to delegate a good part of the material work, keeping a "brains" role.

[Peter Mallett]

So we can't expect a change in Ferrari's fortunes until 2008 then.

[joe rossi]

As reported in Autosport last week

[Dick Spanner]

I wonder what the odds are on a Geoff Willis designed Ferrari for 2008?

[Knowlesy]

Slim I hope!

[Damon]

One down, four to go...

[KC]

So, who offered him some mega-dinero to leave the Scuderia? I doubt Williams. Maybe Mclaren? Maybe RenaultSport? Will this be the catalyst that encourages MS to retire on top, best car, all the records?

[garcon]

Nobody offered him any dinero - he's retiring from full time involvement in F1, but will take a consultancy role with Ferrari.

MS will be retiring on top, best car, all the records come what may - whether that's 2004, 2005, 2006 0r beyond...

[KC]

He's certainly earned it. Turned two poor cars into championship rides.

[alesi95]

Thats it! Thats Ferrari's undoing and only other fours to wait.