In an exclsuive interview posted Saturday morning on Italian web site 422race.com, Ivone Pinton revealed that Villeneuve Racing would be associated with Italian race team Durango.
Since the news broke earlier this week about Jacques Villeneuve setting up his own Formula 1 structure to become the 13th team in F1 next season, Villeneuve never said anything about the project.
But the owner of Durango, Ivone Pinton confirmed 422race.com that his team would be associated with Villeneuve in the launch of a totally new F1 organisation.
Durango had already applied to the FIA a few months ago to become the 13th team. But now we learn that the two structures would be merged.
“It is an honnour and a priviledge to be associated with Jacques Villeneuve,” said Pinton in the interview.
“Jacques is a dynamic and determined young man,” added Pinton who knows Jacques very well because he was the owner of team Prema Racing that ran the Canadian in the late ‘80s in the Italian Formula 3 series.
Pinton then created Durango and ran again Villeneuve in the Speedcar series last year, the Middle-East-based stock car series. Pinton and Villeneuve must have discussed the possibility of moving up to F1 one year ago.
“I hope we’ll find a way to close the circle and see Jacques return with us,” Pinton added.
“For us at Durango, it is an honour to work with Jacques. He is the son of a legendary driver and a former F1 World Champion. I personally know Jacques since he is 16. He is a great driver who has won in every category he’s competed in.”
F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has asked the new teams to produce some solid financial garanties that they are serious about their bid to enter F1. The FIA will announce the name of the new team at the end of July.
Pinton howner did not say much about the operational side of the business.
“We don’t know for the moment where we would build the car,” he said.
“But the team will certainly be based in our premises in Venetia, Italy. What will be Jacques’ role in the team? He will be one of the drivers, and I think he will help the team immensely. I think he is starting to plan his new life after he retires as a racing driver.”
If this is all true and solid, it means that three teams have applied for the 13th spot: Villeneuve Racing-Durango, American group Cypher and Spanish team Epsilon Euskadi.
Since the news broke earlier this week about Jacques Villeneuve setting up his own Formula 1 structure to become the 13th team in F1 next season, Villeneuve never said anything about the project.
But the owner of Durango, Ivone Pinton confirmed 422race.com that his team would be associated with Villeneuve in the launch of a totally new F1 organisation.
Durango had already applied to the FIA a few months ago to become the 13th team. But now we learn that the two structures would be merged.
“It is an honnour and a priviledge to be associated with Jacques Villeneuve,” said Pinton in the interview.
“Jacques is a dynamic and determined young man,” added Pinton who knows Jacques very well because he was the owner of team Prema Racing that ran the Canadian in the late ‘80s in the Italian Formula 3 series.
Pinton then created Durango and ran again Villeneuve in the Speedcar series last year, the Middle-East-based stock car series. Pinton and Villeneuve must have discussed the possibility of moving up to F1 one year ago.
“I hope we’ll find a way to close the circle and see Jacques return with us,” Pinton added.
“For us at Durango, it is an honour to work with Jacques. He is the son of a legendary driver and a former F1 World Champion. I personally know Jacques since he is 16. He is a great driver who has won in every category he’s competed in.”
F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has asked the new teams to produce some solid financial garanties that they are serious about their bid to enter F1. The FIA will announce the name of the new team at the end of July.
Pinton howner did not say much about the operational side of the business.
“We don’t know for the moment where we would build the car,” he said.
“But the team will certainly be based in our premises in Venetia, Italy. What will be Jacques’ role in the team? He will be one of the drivers, and I think he will help the team immensely. I think he is starting to plan his new life after he retires as a racing driver.”
If this is all true and solid, it means that three teams have applied for the 13th spot: Villeneuve Racing-Durango, American group Cypher and Spanish team Epsilon Euskadi.