Stefan GP considers US F1 takeover
With the Toyota relationship recently coming to an end, Serbian businessman Zoran Stefanovic is now said to be working on reviving the failed USF1 project.
Charlotte based USF1 had an official entry for 2010, but was not ready for the initial races of the season.
It was reported that initial merger efforts between Stefan GP and the American team had failed, but France's Auto Hebdo claims the solution is now back on the table.
The publication said the situation is circulating as a rumor in the Albert Park paddock, where USF1 sporting director Peter Windsor is performing some media duties this weekend.
But the problem with this solution for Stefan is that not only is USF1's car not built, but that the FIA is considering penalizing the American team for not appearing in Melbourne.
03/20/10 Serbian businessman Zoran Stefanovic has not abandoned his ambition for his Stefan GP team to race this season, according to a report on Autosport.
Stefanovic, whose team was refused a place on the grid by the FIA even though he claimed it was ready to replace US F1, is reported to be in talks with US F1 to buy it out and in so doing in effect gain entry that way. He hopes that once the takeover is completed, the FIA will allow him to begin racing immediately.
However, the FIA's stance appears to be that US F1's entry was cancelled when it failed to make the grid in Bahrain, and as a result even were Stefanovic to purchase the remains of the company that would not guarantee anything.
What is more, the FIA has said it is looking at imposing financial penalties on US F1 for its failure to be ready for the new season. With the company seemingly all but defunct, any penalties would be fairly pointless, but were Stefanovic to buy the team then, in theory, the FIA could impose the punishments on him, as the new owner, and yet still not allow him onto the grid.