A Slap in the Face for USA Open Wheelers?
So much for USF1’s quest for an American born driver for the first American based F1 squad.
Jose Maria Lopez has revealed that he will race for US F1 next season if he can secure the rest of his sponsorship package.
The Argentine driver visited US F1’s Charlotte headquarters this week to conclude a conditional deal with team founders Peter Windsor and Ken Anderson.
In a statement on his personal website, Lopez indicated that he was close to finding the rest of the funding required to become the team’s first confirmed driver.
Windsor confirmed that he was very keen to complete a deal with the 26-year-old.
“Until we sign the contract we can’t reveal any details about the negotiations,” he told Lopez’s website. “I can say I have a profound respect for Jose Maria as a driver and a person. He would be a great driver for out team because he brings knowledge and mileage in an F1 car, apart from the extra motivation because he never had the chance to race and show his skill.
“I would be very happy if he raced with us next year. He’s not just another driver on the list. Jose is more than that. He is a driver we are interested in and we want him to be with us. Things can change very quickly in motorsport. It would be inappropriate for me to say anything else.
“We would like to sign the contract as soon as possible.”
Lopez is a former Renault Formula 1 test driver, and raced in Formula 3000 and GP2 between 2004 and 2006. He took a race win at Catalunya with DAMS in 2005.
He had to return to Argentina after the 2006 season, and has since raced in the popular TC2000 saloon series. He became champion last season and is currently leading the standings going into this year’s finale next weekend. Lopez also contested several FIA GT Championship rounds in 2008 as part of the ACA Argentina Ferrari project.
Joe Saward, who certainly would know more than I, says the USF1 connection comes via Peter Windsor and Carlos Reutemann.
“Windsor has long been a big fan of Reutemann and it seems that the Argentine racer-turned-politician has a high regard for Lopez,” says Saward.
Hey, he is an American driver, albeit South American. The USA driver vision was blurred at best for a start up, I’ll be thrilled if they are still a viable team in 3 years with one “Amercain-American” driver.
Smart ass.
Read a piece that claims Pedro dela Rosa is online to be their second driver.
Lopez has had a ton of chances in F3OOO formulas; Renault V6,Euro F3000 & GP2, always with good teams, Super Nova, DAMS, Coloni…….at best a mid-pack driver.
I’m actually surprised as Windsor was bragging on Australian TV recently that he had a email in-box full of resumes from well very funded GP2 drivers. Lopez has been absent from Europe but must be VERY well funded from home. He was not even on the radar of driver predictions for next year.
To me this is a confirmation that USGPE is seriously underfunded & struggling, even now, to make the grid in 2010. Look at Lotus who are adamant that they will only take experienced drivers.
BTW Marc, regarding running a US national, who are your selections (regardless of funding) for a seat at the new team.
The only yank I see with a possibility is Summerton. He’s been all over Twitter the last few days basically saying he’s ready and, as you can guess, pimping for sponsorship.
The other thing about Lopez, and Summerton also, is they both are without a SuperLicense.
Here is the criteria for a FIA SL
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIA_Super_Licence
Summerton should be OK.The biggest problem will be the lack of test mileage.
You guys are both dreamers: Is there any new team with a driver without a current super license who would be denied that license? Look at Kimi, he had a handful of open wheel races and was at the least granted a provisional at his first F1 teams behest.
If they do sign Lopez, there will be NO US driver in the other seat; they still need that experienced F1 pilot who can give setup feedback. Personally I think DelaRosa is not current enough in last year’s car to make a difference. If he brings a boatload of cash at the least they can rationalize his selection.
My hopes for USF1 were dim to begin with, but they get darker with each unfolding story.They need to sign a driver who competed last year, even if it’s Jarno Trulli.
No one said they would be denied a license George. With all the new teams they will be easier to get than ever. It’s just one hurdle they must jump.
I’ve maintained from the start that they a) might not even make the grid & b) wont run U.S drivers.
My question, re potential U.S drivers, was to highlight the total lack of candidates that could be considered for the seat.
If USGPE is serious about running a Yank they will need to start a junior driver program. I suggest next years GP3/GP2 series as the ladder to follow.
[...] rumor suggests (first reported here in November) José María López will get the first seat with the first year start-up [...]