LONDON -- World motorsport's governing
body have yet to receive a formal application from a new German
Formula One team seeking to race in the championship next
season, an FIA source said on Thursday.
"We received an initial enquiry to which we've replied," the
International Automobile Federation (FIA) source told Reuters,
describing that approach as an expression of intent.
"We have received no response since."
German businessman Oliver Behring, who negotiated to buy the
failed Arrows team last year, was quoted this week as saying by
the sport1.de website that he had already put in an application
to the FIA.
He added that his German Grand Prix Racing team would
compete in the first race of 2004 in Melbourne and had secured
financing until the end of that year.
Formula One currently has 10 teams and two vacant slots
after the collapse of Prost and Arrows since the start of 2002.
However, new entrants are still required to pay the FIA a
deposit of $48 million, a condition that remains in force
despite speculation that it would be waived for suitable
applicants in the light of the tough financial climate.
The last new entrant to Formula One was Toyota in 2002.