• 2011 season

FIA decision on 13th team imminent

ESPNF1 Staff
August 25, 2010 « Qatar harbours F1 ambitions | »
Jacques Villeneuve will soon know if his team will be on the grid for 2011 © Sutton Images
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The FIA is set to announce its decision on which team will join the 2011 Formula One grid within the next few days.

The contenders in the running for the position are thought to be Stefan GP, Jacques Villeneuve's Durango collaboration and Epsilon Euskadi, although the Spanish Le Mans team may instead seek a merger with HRT to better its chances.

Villeneuve's bid has received the most publicity and is thought to be the favourite to win. And the 1997 world champion is quietly confident about his chances.

"We did our presentation to a panel and there was no immediate reaction, but everyone seemed pleased," Villeneuve told La Presse Canadienne. "We don't know whether another group made a presentation or not. I know we did a good presentation. It's all or nothing; either it works and it's great, or they say no and everything we've done falls into the water. The decision will be made at the end of the month."

Although the FIA's decision is imminent, Villeneuve, currently preparing to race NASCAR in Montreal, says he hopes it does not come at the weekend.

"I hope nothing is announced during the race weekend. I don't want to spend my weekend discussing Formula One. But if there is a positive outcome, I will put all my efforts into building this team."

Former McLaren team boss Ron Dennis recently threw his support behind Villeneuve's bid.

"Everyone in the world of Formula One hopes it will work," Dennis told French Canadian publication Rue Frontenac. "It is always good to keep former Formula One champions in the sport. But it won't be easy for him to enter the sport with a team. It will be all down to his financial package."

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