F1: American Cypher Group confirms interest to race in Formula 1

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Hours after French team ART Grand Prix issued a press release stating that they were withdrawing their bid to enter Formula 1 in 2011, the American-based Cypher Group has submitted an official application to join the Formula 1 grid next year, after confirming a tie-up with driver Jonathan Summerton .

The mysterious Cypher Group is believed to include former members of the failed Team USF1, who are convinced that the United States is able to set-up and operate a competitive Formula 1 team despite failing with the Charlotte-based operation.

In their press release, the Cypher Group wrote: "We have officially submitted our candidature and hope that we will shortly be selected by the FIA as the 13th entry in the 2011 FIA Formula One World Championship. We aspire to bring America's red, white, and blue back into Formula 1."

Born in Florida, Jonathan Summerton, who has raced successfully in Formula 3, Formula Atlantic and A1 Grand Prix, had been linked with US F1 and is pushing hard to make the move into grand prix racing.

The Cypher statement added: "Jonathan is capable of racing against the top Formula 1 drivers and we hope to be able to give him a competitive car. We look forward to the opportunity of being on the starting grid in 2011."