Our understanding of the situation that led to Stefan GP not been accepted to compete in the 2010 Formula One World Championship.
In 2009, the FIA opened an applications process for new teams interested to compete in the 2010 championship. There was room for three new teams.
Fifteen teams and organisation sent an application to the FIA, including Stefan Grand Prix.
On June 12, the FIA unveiled the names of the three teams that we confirmed to compete in 2010: Campos Grand Prix, Manor Grand Prix and Team USF1.
The FIA indicated that “There were 15 applicants and we took 12 of these through the process initially. We interviewed nine of the more promising potential teams. There were a surprising number of well-presented entries, with substantial funds behind them.”
The FIA also stated in a press release: “All of those entries underwent a stringent due diligence process to ensure that new teams have the required level of funding, resources, experience and technical expertise to compete at the highest level of motor sport.”
Team owner Zoran Stefanovic then filed a complaint with the European Commission, claiming that the entry selection process had been biased in favour of teams who had nominated to run Cosworth engines that were being introduced for 2010.
It then became public that Stefan GP had taken over the Formula 1 car that was being designed by Toyota for the 2010. Toyota having pulled the plug on F1, Stefan GP ran the project.
At that point, it became clear that Stefanovic was unlikely to be granted any F1 entry because he had not been through the necessary procedures and the FIA couldn’t afford to bend the rules for him as that would create a precedent.
In clear, Stefanovic had several things going against him:
1. His application was turned down by the FIA in 2009, and he tried to make it to the grid using the Toyota project. If the FIA said no at the first time, why would they say yes a few months later?
2. He made it public that Mike Coughlan was part of his team. Coughlan is the disgraced McLaren designer who was one pivotal personage in the infamous spy gate that raged between McLaren and Ferrari in 2007. It is certain that several influent people in F1 did not really appreciate to see Stefanovic hire Coughlan.
3. Finally, the FIA was bound to launch a new applications process earlier this week when Team USF1 was declared officially out of the F1 Entry List for 2010. If the FIA wanted to replace USF1, they had to go through the selection process once again, and there was no time to do this.
In 2009, the FIA opened an applications process for new teams interested to compete in the 2010 championship. There was room for three new teams.
Fifteen teams and organisation sent an application to the FIA, including Stefan Grand Prix.
On June 12, the FIA unveiled the names of the three teams that we confirmed to compete in 2010: Campos Grand Prix, Manor Grand Prix and Team USF1.
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| Mike Couglhan and Zoran Stefanovic in the team's offices. (photo: Stefan GP) |
The FIA indicated that “There were 15 applicants and we took 12 of these through the process initially. We interviewed nine of the more promising potential teams. There were a surprising number of well-presented entries, with substantial funds behind them.”
The FIA also stated in a press release: “All of those entries underwent a stringent due diligence process to ensure that new teams have the required level of funding, resources, experience and technical expertise to compete at the highest level of motor sport.”
Team owner Zoran Stefanovic then filed a complaint with the European Commission, claiming that the entry selection process had been biased in favour of teams who had nominated to run Cosworth engines that were being introduced for 2010.
It then became public that Stefan GP had taken over the Formula 1 car that was being designed by Toyota for the 2010. Toyota having pulled the plug on F1, Stefan GP ran the project.
At that point, it became clear that Stefanovic was unlikely to be granted any F1 entry because he had not been through the necessary procedures and the FIA couldn’t afford to bend the rules for him as that would create a precedent.
In clear, Stefanovic had several things going against him:
1. His application was turned down by the FIA in 2009, and he tried to make it to the grid using the Toyota project. If the FIA said no at the first time, why would they say yes a few months later?
2. He made it public that Mike Coughlan was part of his team. Coughlan is the disgraced McLaren designer who was one pivotal personage in the infamous spy gate that raged between McLaren and Ferrari in 2007. It is certain that several influent people in F1 did not really appreciate to see Stefanovic hire Coughlan.
3. Finally, the FIA was bound to launch a new applications process earlier this week when Team USF1 was declared officially out of the F1 Entry List for 2010. If the FIA wanted to replace USF1, they had to go through the selection process once again, and there was no time to do this.