20/05/2006
NEWS STORY
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Former F1 team boss Eddie Jordan has revealed his unease at the process by which the FIA selected the twelve teams that would contest the 2008 Formula One World Championship.
When the 10-day entry window closed on March 31, the sport's governing body revealed that it had received entries from 22 teams. Only a few days earlier the Grand Prix Manufacturers' Association (GPMA) announced that the five manufacturer teams - contrary to speculation at that time - had submitted their entries. Therefore, together with the existing entries this meant that there were 11 new teams hoping to enter F1.
Jordan had already made public the fact that he had submitted an entry, as had fellow-former team boss Paul Stoddart, while it was well-known that David Richards intended entering F1 in his own right.
A meeting of all the 22 applicants scheduled to take place on April 10 was cancelled by the FIA due to the fact that many F1 personnel were taking holidays during the three-week break between the Australian and San Marino Grands Prix.
On April 19, Pitpass was advised by one of the prospective entrants, North Western, that it had received notification that its entry had been unsuccessful. A couple of days later Pitpass learned that Paul Stoddart had received similar notification.
On April 28, the FIA finally revealed the names of the 12 teams that would contest the 2008 Championship, and (surprise, surprise), in addition to the 11 existing teams was Richards' Prodrive.
For many, Prodrive's acceptance into the World Championship was a foregone conclusion, however, many, both inside and outside the paddock, believe that after years of claiming that he wanted to see 'fresh blood' in F1, Max Mosley had missed a golden opportunity to prove it.
Others see no reason why the FIA could not have re-introduced the pre-qualifying process used in the 1980s which would have allowed many more teams to compete.
Writing for F1 Racing magazine, Jordan admits his disappointment with the selection process and wants to know how the sport's governing body made it decision.
"I entered the 2008 process because I believe that, with controlled costs and a level playing field, we could return to our heyday," writes the Irishman.
"I was turned down, fair enough," he continues. "I've had my chance and others deserve theirs. But I'm sure many applicants were disappointed not to know what the selection criteria were.
"In the past if you wanted to build and race a car you could turn up and try pre-qualifying. If they don't even know the criteria, how will young teams like Carlin ever get their chance?"
Jordan admitted that he was surprised by the fact that as many as 11 new teams wanted to enter F1: "Personally, I am surprised there were 22 applications as I can't imagine a new team coming fifth in the championship now."