Stefan Grand Prix sends equipment to Bahrain

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Stefan GP sends equipment to Bahrain

By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, February 2nd 2010, 12:18 GMT

Stefan Grand Prix has shown it remains determined to race in Formula 1 this season, despite having no entry, after sending equipment to the first race in Bahrain.

The Serbian team has made no secret of its intention to join the F1 grid in 2010, having reached provisional agreement with the former Toyota team for technical support - which is believed to include the right to use the Japanese manufacturer's original 2010 car and engine.

And although the team's hopes of getting a late entry rests on one of the current new teams failing to make it, Stefan GP is not holding back in making sure it is ready just in case.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the team said that it had dispatched items to Bahrain – even though all the new teams remain adamant that they will be on the grid for the season opener.

"Stefan Grand Prix...becomes the first team in F1 history who did send a 40 foot container full of equipment to the race in Bahrain without having entry for 2010 season," said a statement issued by the team.

Stefan GP has said previously that if it does not get an entry, it still plans to test throughout 2010 prior to making a push for a grid slot in 2011.
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Just let them in. 28 cars going for 26 grid slots would add an extra bit of fun to qualifying!

Stefan GP
 
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Just had a look through their website, all in bad English like they just put a load of Serbian through Google translator. It says that they plan on testing in Portimao at the end of Febuary with two drivers, one of which has two years of F1 experience already. I'm thinking Nakajima?
 
If they get in, I get the feeling that they're just going to be another Andrea Moda, but at least they wouldn't be dull...
 
Taken from James Allen's twitter page:

Stefan GP - they will test their new car on 25th February at Portimao. It is designed by controversial former McLaren man Mike Coughlan.

I'm told that one of Stefan GP's drivers is definitely ex-Williams man Kazuki Nakajima
 
Now that's what I call "having a good, big pair of cojones".

Still, I think they will do something. It's almost like a new-gen Minardi.
 
What they should do - is let 26 cars race... but however many can afford it - attempt to Qualify...

C.
 
I think everyone knows my opinion on Stefan but I'm quite surprised its picking up momentum...
Have we heard about the finances side yet? Sponsors? Because this side of the story has always fell down. Looking back through Zoran Stefan's record doesn't suggest he's a very wealthy man, and when he claimed the Serbian government are backing him, I just have to laugh.

It very much sounds like Toyota are funding this, and I think there may be a conspiracy going on in the background, with the FIA guiding Stefan to a grid slot. Toyota would have been fined if they left, so perhaps they are trying to make this out to be a continutation of their team? At the same time, the FIA will probably want Sauber to stay in too, but seeing as they already appear to have given all the slots, they may be gently shoving Campos out of the mix....

GM
Just had a look through their website, all in bad English like they just put a load of Serbian through Google translator. It says that they plan on testing in Portimao at the end of Febuary with two drivers, one of which has two years of F1 experience already. I'm thinking Nakajima?
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Stefan himself apparently runs the website, and he is responsive to emails, or at least he was a few months ago.
At the very least, I will give the man credit for being persevering. At the very least he's got everyone's attention!

But really, Coughlan, Nakajima, rebadged Toyota engines...this team really sounds like the last of the last. Just needs Piquet Jr to finish the job off! Maybe Grosjean is an option for them? :lol:

I doubt the car will be on the pace, I doubt they will finish the season but I will sure as hell enjoy watching their struggle!
 
Ardius
Stefan himself apparently runs the website, and he is responsive to emails, or at least he was a few months ago.
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Didn't know that, fair enough for the bad English then..
 
James Allen just revealed Stefan have also hired none other than Dave Ryan (McLaren liegate) too...
F1 Rejects.com should have some fun with this, as we appear to be getting a true "Reject Team" full of rejects all over!
 
daan
If they get in, I get the feeling that they're just going to be another Andrea Moda, but at least they wouldn't be dull...
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I don't think they'd be that bad. I actually think Stefan could be the new Minardi: woefully off the pace, but still pushing harder than anyone else.
 
daan
If they get in, I get the feeling that they're just going to be another Andrea Moda, but at least they wouldn't be dull...
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If Stefan attempts to qualify a car with no engine in it, Andrea Sasetti will demand a royalty.
 
He's got some big one, i'll say that
 
F1 needs it's dreamers and underdogs. Stefan GP is both, and I hope they're granted entry. As Daan says above, it'll make qualifying a little more interesting with two places too few...
 
Bringing back Pre-Qualifying would rule with how close the cars and drivers are today compared to the early '90s.
 
LancerEvo7GSR
Bringing back Pre-Qualifying would rule with how close the cars and drivers are today compared to the early '90s.
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It would never work. Given how outrageously expensive Formula 1 is these days, no sponsor in their right mind would pay millions of dollars if there was a chance the cars wouldn't make the grid at all. If Stefan get onto the grid as a fourteenth team, then all twenty-eight cars would qualify. Which would be the definition of awesome.
 
Bit late for an extra team to join the grid, there's only about 6 weeks left of off season. Would be super awesome though.
 
PJ-FFL
Bit late for an extra team to join the grid, there's only about 6 weeks left of off season. Would be super awesome though.
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It's unlikely Stefan will join as a "new" team. FOTA have opposed fourteen teams in the past, and they're unlikely to change their minds. If Stefan join, it will be in the place of a dead team.
 
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It's unlikely Stefan will join as a "new" team. FOTA have opposed fourteen teams in the past, and they're unlikely to change their minds. If Stefan join, it will be in the place of a dead team.
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Hmm...I wonder who the dead team might be?

USF1? Team UltimateSuperFailure1 :lol: jk
 
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timeattack07gt
Who might be the dead team?
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If popular rumour is to be believed, Campos have found themselves up a certain proverbial creek that is both putrid-smelling and suspiciously brown in colour. Tony Teixeira of A1GP infamy is said to be investing in them, with several reports claiming he's purchased the team outright, but Bernie Ecclestone has said that he'll block any move into Formula 1 that Teixeria attempts to make until such time as his outstanding debts are paid. He needn't bother getting involved; Campos was apparently asked to show collateral (ie proof that they could and would make it) this week at the meeting of the F1 Commission. There's been no word just yet - I don't know if the meeting was just one day of if it's a series of meetings lasting all week - but FOTA have apparently blocked a Teixeira-Campos effort on the gronds that he owes Ferrari a lot of money for A1GP's Ferrari engine deal. Other reports claim that Campos is so deeply in debt to Dallara that Dallara have been able to put the intellectual property rights to the chassis up for sale and that Stefan have purchased them. If true, it doesn't mean that Stefan get onto the grid, only that Campos cannot since they would not be allowed to run the Dallara chassis. At least, they would not be allowed to run it without paying Stefan royalties.

That said, I don't believe any of it. Not because I steadfastly believe Campos will be there this season, but because there are so many variations of the reports and none of them from news sources that I trust. I'll wait for official word, myself.
 
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there are so many variations of the reports and none of them from news sources that I trust. I'll wait for official word, myself.
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Well said. I think that with regard to the four official new teams plus Stefan, we'll see who makes it when they turn up on race day in Bahrain.
 
Well according to Bernie, oh he that knows everything (not!), he thinks Campos and USF1 won' make it and would welcome Stefan GP.

Also, more worryingly, he is saying Ralf Schumacher would be a good choice for driver for them
 
I really hope Campos make it, and do well. It would be a shame to see Bruno's career end before it starts.
 
Ian Poole
Also, more worryingly, he is saying Ralf Schumacher would be a good choice for driver for them
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Well, he is probably still the 3rd best F1 driver.
 
^:lol:

Villenueve, Schumacher..why does Mr Stefan attempt to hire all the F1 Rejects? Probably because his team appears too dodgy for anyone credible to join.
I'd like to see him hire Villenueve, just for the announcement.."Stefan GP makes F1 history! First Serbian team to hire World Champion!"
 
daan
Well, he is probably still the 3rd best F1 driver.
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Even I find that funny and it takes a hell of a lot to make me laugh.

You are saying that Ralf Schumacher is better than his brother, Senna, Prost, Fangio etc.?

First of all I would like to know what you were drinking when you thought of that (comment made in good humour) and then I want to know why you think Ralf is better than said people
 
Ian Poole
Even I find that funny and it takes a hell of a lot to make me laugh.

You are saying that Ralf Schumacher is better than his brother, Senna, Prost, Fangio etc.?

First of all I would like to know what you were drinking when you thought of that (comment made in good humour) and then I want to know why you think Ralf is better than said people
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Its a reference to an infamous Ralf quote.
 
Ardius
Its a reference to an infamous Ralf quote.
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I genuinely didn't know that, learn something new every day between you and Ludes :)
 
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