Interest in low-cost F1 ‘reassuring’ – FIA
While eight of formula one's existing teams are still at loggerheads with Max Mosley, three new outfits were on Friday toasting the FIA president for rubber-stamping their applications to debut in 2010.
USF1, Manor and Campos, to all be powered by Cosworth's customer engine, were granted unconditional entries for next season, while due diligence was carried out on nine other prospective outfits, the FIA said.
Pending the new June 19 deadline for the resolving of the FOTA crisis, Prodrive and Lotus are near the top of the FIA's reserve shortlist, as is the British racing car company Lola.
"The Lola F1 Team is not currently listed as an entrant but will continue to remain in discussion with the FIA as a potential new entry until the extended deadline of June 19 2009," read a statement.
Currently at Le Mans where he is preparing to race for Peugeot in the famous 24 hour endurance sports car race, Alex Wurz said Team Superfund has also been placed on the reserve list.
The FIA said the excess of interest in F1's lower-cost future is "reassuring".
"This exercise has demonstrated that the only reason there have been vacancies on the F1 grid for many years was the excessive cost of participation," read a media document released by the Paris body.