F1: ART Calls Off 2011 Entry Bid

Formula 1

F1: ART Calls Off 2011 Entry Bid

ART has given up its bid to become the 13th team on the 2011 Formula One grid...

Adam Cooper | http://www.speedtv.com | Posted July 07, 2010 Balen (BEL)

Co-owner Nicolas Todt and his ART team will no longer pursue the final spot on the 2011 Formula One grid. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

ART has announced on its website that it has withdrawn its bid for a 2011 Formula One entry. The news opens up the race as ART had been logical favorites, and it also heads off any charges of nepotism should the organization co-owned by Nicolas Todt have gotten the nod from the FIA.

A statement from the team blames unfavorable economic conditions but says that ART had forged good relationships with potential partners. It also says that the bid has been postponed, meaning the team might try again some time.

The reality is, of course, that potential sponsors and investors have seen how hard life has been for the new teams in 2010.

This time last year potential entrants were able to cite Brawn GP as an example of what an 'independent' team could do, although BAT and later Honda had, of course, poured millions of dollars into the team.

Adam Cooper notched up his 25th season as a racing journalist in 2009. Born in London, England, he saw his first F1 race at age 10 in 1976. He began freelancing for Autosport magazine in 1985 and was on the fulltime staff from 1987-92. He then went freelance again, initially spending two years in Japan before following the 1994 Champcar series from a base in Indianapolis. He has not missed a Grand Prix since Suzuka ‘94, a run that has extended to Abu Dhabi ’09. Adam has written books about Eddie Irvine, Piers Courage and Michael Schumacher and hosts a race preview show on Sirius XM. He has written about F1 for SPEEDtv.com since 2005. Check out Adam's Blog or follow him on Twitter

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