Formula 1 could boast a new addition to the grid in 2019 following news that former Stefan GP boss Zoran Stefanovic met with Ross Brawn in Austria.
Stefanovic hit the headlines in 2009 when he attempted to enter Stefan GP into the sport, only to be denied entry by the FIA.
The Serbian claimed he secured the services of Kazuki Nakajima, and went so far as to send a container to Bahrain in the hope it would be permitted to compete in the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix.
Though the project was then canned, rumours recently have swirled that a number of teams, including the much discussed China F1 Racing Team, were looking to enter F1, Stefanovic has now publically stated that he is launching a second attempt to enter the sport.
He has set up facilities in Parma and hired former Williams and Ferrari man Enrique Scalabroni to start putting together the technical aspects of the outfit, already reaching an agreement to use a wind tunnel facility.
Speaking to Autosport about his plans Stefanovic said: “I am here to meet Ross Brawn because I am setting up an F1 team based in Italy.
“Before coming to Austria I’ve put together some very important agreements: I defined that it will be based in Parma, which is located a reasonable distance from the wind tunnel.
“I’ve also signed a contract with a specialist in aerodynamics to help work on the project.”
Stefanovic plans to build the team over the next 12 months before setting a target of securing an entry for 2019, but any grid addition would be dependent on the FIA deciding to open the tender for a new slot.
FIA president Jean Todt has made it clear that the entries will only be opened up if he feels there are serious candidates ready to fill the places.
“When we feel it is time we will be able to make a tender,” Todt said last month.
“At the moment we have ten teams and the idea is to have up to 12 teams. So we have an opportunity, if we have one or two strong newcomers it could be possible.”
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