US hopefuls to unveil F1 plans

A prospective American-based Formula One team will unveil its plans on Tuesday to use United States technology and drivers to compete in the global racing series, according to the group’s website.

USF1, expected to be based here in the heartland of the US’s stock car series Nascar, will announce plans on Speed TV, where former Williams and Ferrari team manager Peter Windsor serves as a reporter for F1 coverage.

Also in the group is Ken Anderson, who worked for two F1 teams in the 1980s, and has been a US motorsport designer and engineer.

“Ken Anderson and I have been looking at the possibility of designing and building an F1 car in the US for the past four years,” Windsor told Speed TV.

F1 races have departed Montreal and Indianapolis to leave North America without an event in the global series, which has struggled with financial issues in the current economic slump.

“Of course it’s not easy raising money in the recession,” Windsor said. “Having said that, the recession is all about adapting to changing times and resetting the boundaries.

That is what we are going to with USF1.”

Hints that the team’s search for a US driver would include Indy-car racer Danica Patrick sparked some interest, but the group must first find the money to run in F1 before there is a need for anyone behind the wheel.—Sapa-AFP