Villeneuve expects 13th team decision within August

The FIA’s decision about the vacant team entry for 2011 will be made within the next few days.

“The decision will made at the end of the month,” 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve is quoted by La Presse Canadienne.

The French Canadian is bidding to return to F1 with his own team next year in collaboration with the Italian outfit Durango.

He is currently preparing for a NASCAR race in Montreal.

“I hope nothing is announced during the race weekend,” said Villeneuve, 39.  “I don’t want to spend my weekend discussing formula one.

“But if there is a positive outcome, I will put all my efforts into building this team,” he added.

Villeneuve said he and Durango recently made a presentation to the FIA, who might decide to leave the 13th team place vacant in 2011.

“We did our presentation to a panel and there was no immediate reaction, but everyone seemed pleased,” he explained.

“We don’t know whether another group made a presentation or not.  I know we did a good presentation.

“It’s all or nothing; either it works and it’s great, or they say no and everything we’ve done falls into the water,” said Villeneuve.

Finland’s Turun Sanomat cited “Italian sources” in confirming Villeneuve’s statement that the FIA will make its decision by the end of August.

The newspaper said the Spanish Le Mans team Epsilon Euskadi, now considering an alliance with HRT, is no longer in the running for the 13th place.

© RIF | GMM