Stefan GP, to take part in the 2010 ?
 

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp...2bmjErBlrWXdxg

COLOGNE, Germany — Serbian businessman Zoran Stefanovic on Friday signed an agreement with Toyota which could pave the way for a new team, Stefan GP, to take part in the 2010 Formula One world championship.

http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2010/...-with-reality/

I can't see them joining in this year. Next year, maybe, but not this season.

I would find it idiotic to make them sit out the season when they seem to have EVERYTHING in place to race and possibly even do better than a couple of the other n00bs...

Why would it be idiotic? All it would demonstrate is that money talks louder than the FIA vetting procedure.

Because in this case, I am actually on money's side! http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...es/biggrin.gif

I'm actually leaning towards the idea that the limit of 13 teams should be scrapped and all teams, who want to race, should be let to pre-qualifying like in the 80's and 90's, even if there are 20 teams. It's just sad to see so many teams knocking on the door and even having something ready ( Stefan's Toyota car, Lola had a car in the windtunnel, etc), but not having the opportunity to prove their worth in a real competition. And who fears that not all participating teams may be "serious", then IMO real competition should be the real selector, who deserves to be on the grid among those Top26 and who doesn't, instead of an artificial FIA's selection method. The hopeless participants will naturally disappear sooner or later.

Totally with you on that one, mate! I too say, let them take a shot at it, and the ones who will fail will fail. But at least let them try.

100% agree jens. http://www.motorsportforums.com/images/styles/World/icons/icon14.gif

Will Campos or USF1 be on the grid in Barain?

I would like to see how the car Stefan GP tokk over from Toyota handles.

Completely agree with both of these statements.

Well why not as they will no doubt have a 2010 car that is raceable and is probably still being developed just in case.

They would probably finish in the top 6 in the constructors' championship if they can find two decent drivers (Heidfeld, Klien, Davidson, Sato, Nakajima spring to mind)

Q:would the toyota spot on the concorde agreement transfer to Stefan GP

Well I'm guessing it would - after all it is the same situation as Honda to Brawn, Brawn to Mercedes and BMW to Sauber.

The more the merrier though. Especially because, unlike the new teams, we are almost guaranteed a car that can regularly score points.

But won´t they have trouble finding sponsors and drivers in such a short time?

Honda gave Brawn the drivers, and Merc and Sauber have had enough time to put things together, knowing they´d be going to be on the grid. Well, maybe Sauber had less time, but now there´s a bit more than a month for Stefan GP to do it.

I really hope they are allowed to race and they put a team together for this (brutal) season I´m (we´re) waiting for, but I see it difficult to happen...

Actually Toyota's spot went to BMW-Sauber. I am not sure of Stefan GP would be able to find a place in this upcoming season.

ed

12:15 In other news, Stefan GP is traveling to Bahrain... More info on AUTOSPORT soon - http://live.autosport.com/commentary.php/id/172

Reminds me of that Phoenix team that turned up at a GP with the old Prost cars years ago... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Finance

If they are allowed in, while the likes of Prodrive apparently weren't good enough, then that's a sick joke.

Nothing really stopped Prodrive from buying Toyota's assets and try to do the same thing. Stefan just beat them to that vision, and shelled out actual money to make it happen.

There do however seem to be some forces on the inside that apparently don't want Prodrive in F1, although there are also some on this forum who stated that when it comes to coughing up actual cash to strike a deal, Prodrive isn't as deep-pocketed as it may seem, and that's why they haven't been able to secure an entry so far...

For more edivence of the hopelessness of the FIA's vetting procedure, how about this from James Allen's blog:

And, intriguingly, with several new teams struggling one way or another, it appears that a deal may have been agreed whereby the new teams will be allowed three ‘no-shows’ at races in the next season.No no no no no. The whole idea was to introduce professional outfits to F1 who could manage a whole season and field credible cars. This is going to make F1 look like the London Marathon allowing a fat bloke in a Spiderman costume just becuase he's collecting for charity.