03/04/2006
NEWS STORY
The fact that the FIA announced that 22 teams had submitted entries for the 2008 World Championship on what was April Fools day in Melbourne, didn't go unnoticed in the paddock at the weekend.
Nonetheless, ahead of the meeting in London on April 10, only the FIA is aware of the identity of all 22 prospective entrants.
We can take it as read that all 11 current teams have submitted their entries, therefore the speculation is as to the identity of the remaining prospective entrants.
Paul Stoddart (Minardi) and David Richards (Prodrive) have already confirmed that they have submitted entries, whilst talking to Irish broadcaster Setanta at the weekend, former Jordan technical director, Gary Anderson, revealed that his former employer, Eddie Jordan, has submitted an entry.
Direxiv (Japan) and Racing Engineering (Spain) have also confirmed 'entries, which means that there are still six prospective entrants unaccounted for.
GP2 team, Art Grand Prix, together with Roger Penske and Christian Horner's Arden International have confirmed that they have not submitted entries, while it has can be assumed that Eddie Irvine, and his ever present Russian consortium, are amongst the 22 hopefuls.
Several well known racing outfits, such as Carlin, DAMS, BCN Competicion and even Piquet Sports could be considered serious prospects, while Pitpass is aware of an entry that hasn't been mentioned anywhere else.
Naturally, we can't say anything more, but think airline - and we are not referring to Paul Stoddart.
The team behind the confirmed entry has been looking at entering F1 for the last couple of seasons, and that leaves just four prospective entrants whose identity is currently a mystery.
The regulations limit the final entry list to just twelve teams.