• 2011 Season

Epsilon Euskadi expresses interest in F1 spot

Spanish outfit Epsilon Euskadi will apply to become Formula One's 13th team in 2011.

Last week the FIA said it was looking for expressions of interest from teams interested in taking part in 2011 by April 15. Full applications will need to be submitted by the end of June, followed by "due diligence leading to a decision in July 2010".

Epsilon Euskadi, involved in junior single-seater categories as well as Le Mans with a prototype car, applied to make its F1 debut this year but was unsuccessful.

"We were ready in June, we had the financial support, but for whatever reasons we were not chosen," said team boss Joan Villadelprat, who for decades worked in F1 with McLaren, Ferrari, Benetton, Tyrrell and Prost. "We will reopen the project and my job is to re-gather all of the support that we had. If the FIA gives us enough time to be ready for next year, we can be in F1."

It is believed that amid the last team selection process, Epsilon Euskadi was a front-runner throughout. Also with credible projects were Prodrive and Lola.

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