The former GP2 team Durango announced that has lodged an official application to fill the 13th spot on the 2011 Formula One grid.
The Italian outfit, was founded in 1980 and has a wide experience in sports car and other European open wheel series like the F3000, and GP2. Still the team was obliged to pulled out of 2010 GP2 series due to financial problems. Team co-founder Ivone Pinton quoted about team's current condition:
"After all the wrong things that happened (to the team) last season we tried our best to look for new partners in our racing activity... During talks to rescue Durango's GP2 project, it was clear that investors were interested in Formula One and nothing else. So we pushed towards this direction and I can say that, to enter F1, we can now enjoy the backing of two very big international groups."
Durango was involved with Giancarlo Fisichella's GP2 team and ran Jacques Villeneuve in the Speedcar series after his failure of racing at NASCAR Sprint Cup in 2008, so the Canadian ex-World Champion might have another chance to race again in F1 next season.
However, after the USF1-Stefan GP fiasco before the start of the 2010 season due to USF1 funding inability, FIA will be very careful during the selection process examining thoroughly candidate teams' business and racing resources. Still with one week deadline for the application of interest, it is rumored that the Austrian investment company Superfund, does not intend to re-apply for a place on the F1 grid in 2011.
