27/01/2010
NEWS STORY
A1 GP boss Tony Teixeira has admitted that he is in talks with Campos Meta with regards buying a stake in the Spanish outfit, while revealing that any possible deal has to involve his own series.
While there is a serious question mark over the future of Campos Meta - one of four new teams due to enter the sport this season - the future for A1 GP appears even more troubled, with most races on the provisional calendar cancelled and the official website out of action.
In a telephone interview with Reuters, Teixeira has admitted that he is in talks with Campos Meta, which has already signed Bruno Senna.
"I am talking to Campos, but I'm not the only one," said Teixeira. "There's more than one group talking to Campos and for us it has got to be part of an A1 deal It's all for A1. My ambition is to bring A1 into F1."
Despite the FIA's due diligence there has been a question mark over Campos Meta and US F1 for some time, with Bernie Ecclestone admitting scepticism as to whether they'll make it to the grid in time for Bahrain if at all. However, both teams say that despite problems they are on track.
Teixeira claims that he is looking at using Campos' role in F1 to promote A1 GP, admitting that title sponsorship of the Spanish team is not out of the question.
The future of A1 GP remains unclear, and while there was already a certain attitude towards the self-styled 'World Cup of Motorsport', this worsened following the last minute cancellation of the opening race in Australia.
The future of the series, which has provided some great racing but also suffered a series of PR own goals, remains in doubt with asset management company RAB Capital thought to be looking at a rescue package.
Teixeira, owner and CEO of the oil, diamonds and gold trade company Energem, has previously shown interest in a number of F1 teams including Force India and Honda. However, while recently linked with Campos, Pitpass sources claim that the Portuguese-South African's name "popped up" when due diligence was carried out on Genii Capital, the Luxembourg investment company that bought a large slice of the Renault F1 team last year.
Whatever happens, the fact that at least one team looks likely to be bought out just six weeks before the season kicks off is highly worrying. Especially in light of the comments made by Ecclestone - a man who has seen it all before - and Martin Whitmarsh.