Another USF1 team to emerge
"They (Cypher) have applied and (I'm) pretty sure things are looking good," he said.
With the withdrawn application of the GP2 team ART, it is expected that Cypher is in contention for the 13th team place with Epsilon Euskadi and Stefan GP.
"We aspire to bring America's red, white, and blue back into formula one," said part of Cypher's Thursday statement.
The group also confirmed that it will potentially collaborate with Summerton.
06/15/10 Autosport reports that another USF1 bid by Parris Mullins, the advisor to YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley moved up a gear in Canada last weekend when representatives met with teams and Bernie Ecclestone to advance their talks.
Mullins travelled to Montreal last weekend to continue discussions with teams about possible options for the future, which he has made clear will be with a current team rather than as a start-up operation.
Paddock speculation has already linked him with both Sauber and Scuderia Toro Rosso, because of his good personal links with Ferrari, but Mullins insists he is totally open-minded about how he gets involved.
Speaking to AUTOSPORT about how his visit to Montreal had gone, Mullins said: "Over the course of these three days progress has been huge. There was only so much I could do from the US anyway, and all the right people are here congregated in to one area.
"I made a lot more progress this weekend than what I was expecting, I hope to be making just as much progress between now and Valencia so we will see. The project is moving ahead.
"More options have come up. As I have mentioned before I had several different ideas for not just myself to enter the sport, but also for the group of people that I am representing. So more possibilities have popped up. It has been a very productive weekend."
"Like I have said before, if the project makes sense Bernie is willing to help," he said. "If it makes sense then he will get behind it. I am taking it one step at a time, going at his pace and following his advice."
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| Luca di Montezemolo |
05/26/10 (GMM) Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has added weight to recent reports that an American team could soon be a reality in formula one.
In the wake of the USF1 debacle, skepticism accompanied the recent news about a US-based outfit called Cypher Group submitting a "letter of interest" about obtaining the last spot on the 2011 grid.
But a few days later, USF1 backer and YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley's aide Parris Mullins admitted to Autosport that "I would be lying if I said that I haven't been exploring other ways of entry into this sport".
"I am part of a project right now that is trying to enter the sport," he added, admitting that he sees a customer car as a viable initial route.
And Montezemolo, who has been pushing hard for a rule change to allow three-car team entries, told Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport: "I dream of a third Ferrari managed by an American team, with the stars and stripes flag."
05/24/10 Parris Mullins, the advisor to YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley who led a last-ditch bid to try and save US F1 earlier this year, is behind a fresh American attempt to break into Formula 1, AUTOSPORT reports.
Hurley appointed Mullins as his official representative in 11th hour talks to save US F1 once it became clear how far behind schedule the team was with its car. But despite lengthy discussions with Bernie Ecclestone, Campos Grand Prix, Stefan Grand Prix and other team figures to try and find a rescue package, which would have seen him installed as team principal, Mullins could not get a deal that he and Hurley were happy with.
Mullins are totally separate from the new team bid put together by former US F1 staff members known as the Cypher Group.
"I am part of a project right now that is trying to enter the sport," Mullins told AUTOSPORT, in his first full-length interview since the end of US F1. "I can't give away any specifics right now, but I can say I don't believe a start-up team is possible. That is definitely a topic that will be debated for some time until a practical solution is found, but I think personally, given the current state of the sport and its rules, then a competitive start-up team simply isn't possible.
"This sport is all about knowledge, and you need to apply the experience gained from the previous years of competing in the sport, and the team needs to be operating in a cohesive environment. I think a great example is the Honda/Brawn situation last year. Here was an existing team that was taken over, the necessary changes were made and it was turned into a championship-winning team the following year. And that is no different from what we have seen in the past, with Red Bull Racing, Force India and Toro Rosso."
05/12/10 (GMM) In the wake of the USF1 calamity, another American group has signaled its intention to race in formula one next year.
Cypher Group confirmed on Thursday that it has submitted a "letter of interest" about obtaining the 13th and final spot on the 2011 grid.
The company said it consists of "experienced F1 engineers, designers and businessmen" whose objective "is to create a successful US-based F1 team".
Cypher said it "recognizes the significant challenges" of building a team in a short amount of time and will therefore "utilize 'best of breed' components throughout the car".
"In support of this strategy Cypher is in contact with established manufacturers of formula one racing cars and components," the outfit added.
"Our aims are ultimately to be competitive and provide unrivalled access and interaction for our supporters whilst maintaining high standards of integrity and values, alongside creative out of the box thinking."
Cypher clarified that it has not yet lodged a formal entry to compete next year.
The outfit said it will only do so "should we achieve fully the budget we believe is necessary to do this properly.
"We are not in this to embarrass America, the fans or ourselves. We simply want to give America the shot it deserves."