American Cypher Group Targets F1 Entry
By Jonathan Noble
Thursday, July 8th 2010, 07:49 GMT
The American-based Cypher Group has submitted an official application to join the Formula 1 grid next year, after confirming a tie-up with driver Jonathan Summerton.
Cypher is believed to include former members of the failed Team US F1, who are adamant that the United States is able to produce a competitive grand prix outfit despite failing with the Charlotte-based operation.
In a statement issued overnight - and just hours after ART Grand Prix announced it was pulling out of its plans to move into F1 - Cypher said: "We have officially submitted our candidature and hope that we will shortly be selected by the FIA as the 13th entry in the 2011 FIA Formula One World Championship. We aspire to bring America's red, white, and blue back into Formula 1."
Summerton, who has raced successfully in F3 and A1GP, had been linked with US F1 and is pushing hard to make the move into grand prix racing.
The Cypher statement added: "Jonathan is capable of racing against the top Formula 1 drivers and we hope to be able to give him a competitive car. We look forward to the opportunity of being on the starting grid in 2011."
Cypher looks set to be going up against Epsilon Euskadi, Stefan GP and Durango for the 13th slot on the F1 grid. The effort is also totally separate from the push by former US F1 representative Parris Mullins to lead American efforts into a tie-up with a current team.