Espilon Euskadi interested in buying BMW-Sauber!

Epsilon Euskadi has expressed its interest in purchasing the BMW Sauber team if it hasn’t already been sold to new owners. The team was one of the favorites to be among the three new teams for 2010. Not selected, it was considered a substitute in case of a failure of one of the 10 former teams, as is now the case with BMW-Sauber.

After the election and study of the best offers, the FIA – Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile – had selected three additional teams a few months ago to be part of the 2010 Formula 1 season. Among them were Campos Meta1, Manor GP, and USF1 (USGPE). The list of candidate teams included six names, including Epsilon Euskadi, a group already present in the World Series by Renault or in Endurance.

Joan Villadelprat, the director of the Spanish team, has always expressed confidence in replacing a Formula 1 team if one of them could not participate in the 2010 season. Despite the short time to prepare a Formula 1 team project, he is convinced of his ability and that his Formula 1 project has never stopped and is ready to replace a team if given the opportunity.

« We continue to work on our project (F1), albeit slowly because we are not certain of being on the 2010 grid. » he comments to the English newspaper Autosport.

« What we can say is that all those who believed in us during our candidacy are still interested in the F1 project, which is quite exceptional. So if we have the opportunity, we will jump on it! »

Villadelprat also commented on BMW’s surprising departure from Formula 1 at the end of the season – noting that as a ‘particular’ team it does not have the flaws of a major manufacturer: « I am surprised because they have done a lot of work in Formula 1, especially for the Concorde Agreements or as a member of FOTA. They have been very involved, but it is always the same story with big manufacturers. In the end, it’s other people who make the decision about the future of the team… that’s what Mosley fears and why he is fighting. »

Before BMW’s acquisition of Sauber, the team (and thus the Hinwil factory) was independent. No details have been announced about the future of the latter, but it seems that a takeover or a merger with a company such as Espilon Euskadi is highly likely—satisfying everyone.