OCTOBER 12, 2001

The American Formula 1 team - the real story

FOLLOWING Dietrich Mateschitz's recent announcement that he is taking up an option to buy the Arrows F1 team in order to establish a red Bull-sponsored All-American Formula 1 team (which was denied by Tom Walkinshaw), we have received word from the United States that Mateschitz is indeed working towards that goal in league with an American marketing company called MSM.

Maxim Sports Management (MSM) began working on the idea three years ago. Part of the inspiration had come from MSM's principal Maria Jannace's involvement with Nigel Mansell when the British driver was racing in CART.

MSM initially approached Dan Gurney, an American racing icon. Gurney agreed to be involved and that opened doors with a number of F1 teams, engine makers and sponsors. MSM has now decided to work with Mateschitz and MSM and Red Bull are implementing an American F1 Ladder & Driver Search Program, details of which will be announced shortly. MSM, Red Bull and a number of other very well known motorsports figures and sponsors are expected to be involved in the program the details of which will be announced shortly. MSM has not confirmed whether the team takeover will take place but the implication is that this is in the pipeline.