MARCH 11, 2010

FIA re-opens selection process for 2011

The Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), F1's governing body, announced today that it will re-open the selection process for a potential 13th team to enter Formula One for the 2011 season.

The Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), F1's governing body, announced today that it will re-open the selection process for a potential 13th team to enter Formula One for the 2011 season.

The FIA has taken the decision following US F1 Team's failure to be ready to compete for the 2010 season. The American team had asked that it's entry be postponed until next season, but the FIA decided to pull it's entry and open up the slot. There are a number of potential teams which might apply, including teams that did not secure a spot this season: Lola, Epsilon Euskadi, Prodrive and N-Technology, as well as Stefan GP, which was much in the press over the winter.

The FIA also implied that the US F1 Team could face penalties for not making it to the grid. In a statement they said:

"With regard to the USF1 team's non-participation in the 2010 championship, the world council mandated the FIA president, in full compliance with the new code of practice for disciplinary matters, to take forward the most appropriate action."