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F1: Cosworth eyes fifth customer team for 2011

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Khatir Soltani
From GMM

Rather than bracing to lose a customer, Cosworth says it is ready to supply engines to a fifth formula one team next year.

The British marque's business director Mark Gallagher played down recent reports that the currently Cosworth-powered Williams or Lotus could be moving to switch to Renault.

Renault has said it is willing to add to its customer engine roster for 2011, but Mark Gallagher told Reuters that he thinks Williams, Lotus, Virgin and HRT are going nowhere.

"The obvious solution is actually the thirteenth team that is coming into formula one. My gut feeling is that it is probably a Cosworth/Renault competition to supply (that) team," said Mark Gallagher.

Even if the four Cosworth-powered teams all stay put, Gallagher said the Northampton-based supplier has the capacity to supply a fifth team.

"It certainly wouldn't be a problem to step up to the mark again and do it for next season," he said.


According to reports in the financial media, F1 engine supplier Cosworth could soon be floated on the stock exchange.

The reports estimated the value of the flotation at about (US) $360 million, following the famous British marque's return to F1 with Williams and all three of the new teams.

Until now, Cosworth has not denying stock market floatation reports.




Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
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