Kalkhoven and Forsythe buy Pi Group

UPDATE This rumor is upgraded to 'fact' today. While we were asked not to report it as 'fact' when this rumor first went up Autosport now is reporting this as a done deal. Followed up their recent purchase of engine specialists Cosworth by agreeing a deal to buy electronics arm Pi Group from Ford. As part of Ford's decision to withdraw from Formula 1 at the end of the season, Pi Group was put up for sale alongside Cosworth and the Jaguar Racing team. With energy drinks giant Red Bull buying Jaguar, Kalkhoven and Forsythe were successful in their bid for Cosworth and have now followed that up with a deal for Pi Group. Kalkhoven said: “This was a logical step for us following our recent acquisition of Cosworth. Electronics are increasingly important in motorsport and in the automotive industry. Pi Group will play an important part in our business plans going forward." Pi Group has operations in Britain and the United States. The British bases are in Milton and in Cottenham near Cambridge, while in America there are bases in Indianapolis, Detroit and Charlotte. It employs 320 people. Pi Research designs and manufactures electronics and software for use in motorsport while Pi Technology is a world leader in automotive electronic systems development. 12/13/04 AutoRacing1.com has learned that in addition to buying Cosworth, Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerald Forsythe are close to signing a deal to buy Pi Research from Ford as well. This will provide them another important element in their overall suite of offerings they can provide to Champ Car and well as any other engine manufacturer or race series that needs the data logging and analysis software and hardware technology they provide. Mark C.