» FIA says no to 13th team for 2011

The FIA has announced that neither of the aspirant outfits bidding for the final place on the 2011 grid – those being Epsilon Euskadi and the Villeneuve/Durange concern – has been granted a place to compete on the 2011 grid, effectively leaving next year’s grid capped at 24 cars.

The sport’s governing body had reopened the tender process after the thirteenth team slot was left vacant by the collapse of the USF1 outfit on the eve of the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

Several outfits aside from the two who made the final cut had lodged applications, which included Stefan GP, the ART GP2 squad and the American Cypher Group had all lodged, and later withdrew, their applications during the tender process.

The FIA-issued statement reads: “Following the press release of 19 March 2010 calling for expressions of interest to participate in the 2011 and 2012 seasons of the FIA Formula One World Championship, a number of interested parties expressed their interest.

“It was considered that none of the candidates met the requirements to be granted an entry into the championship. Consequently, the allocation of the 13th team will not be granted.”