Stefan GP fired up - but nowhere to go

Stefan GP fired up their 2010 Formula One car in Cologne on Friday - but at present the team still doesn't have a place on this year's grid.

Team owner Zoran Stefanovic is determined to be ready should one of F1's newcomers fall by the wayside or the FIA agrees to extend this year's grid to 14 teams.

Preparations are therefore in full swing as the team fired up their SF01 car, which they hope to test later this month at the Portimao circuit in Portugal.

"This morning, 19 February 2010, was another stepping stone for Stefan Grand Prix. This morning at 8:00, the first car - Stefan 01 - was fired up for the first time," Stefanovic told Autosport.

"The car ran faultlessly, there was no problem whatsoever, and we could race or test on a racetrack, but we're just waiting for tyres.

"The car is completely assembled and the second one is already underway and will be ready also in several days."

Stefanovic, though, admitted that he has yet to hear from the FIA regarding the possibility of his team racing in Bahrain next month.

"We are expecting it to be clarified relatively shortly because all of us know what the situation is," he said. "In the meantime we are working very heavily on sorting out the drivers' contracts."

One of those is believed to be former World Champ Jacques Villeneuve. And although both parties have been coy about the rumours up until now, Stefanovic finally admitted that yes, Villeneuve is in the running for a race-seat.

"At the moment we have to say that we are very near. We are very near to a contract with Jacques Villeneuve, and probably also with another driver as our reserve driver. But the first one which will be with us is Kazuki Nakajima."

Stefan GP fired up - but nowhere to go - Planet-F1 News from planet-f1.com

Either they are too optimistic or maybe they already have a handshake agreement with Bernie... hoping they would be on the grid if Usf1 fails.

they should kick out virgin they were 20 seconds behind the pace right ?

considering toyota has already done all the work... stefanGp should be fast, if they get good drivers,