Toyota to continue, Minardi to rejoin

By Nick Sparkes
March 28 2006

Days after the 2008 entry window opened, the 5 'rebel' teams; BMW, Honda, McLaren, Renault and Toyota, have submitted their entry forms and plan to continue competing in Formula One beyond 2007. But the big news came 24 hours later when Paul Stoddard submitted his form for Minardi.

On Monday, Toyota along with the other 4 manufactured teams who were yet to sign on with Formula One beyond 2007, released this statement following their submission; "The teams look forward to the FIA's acceptances, and to beginning discussions with the FIA in order to finalise the regulations for 2008. The GPMA members are united and remain committed to improve the sport for the benefit of all stakeholders. Significant progress has been made in the negotiations between the GPMA and the commercial rights holder, and discussions are ongoing."

There are still rumours surrounding the 5 manufacture teams that a break-away championship is still on the cards, but since their agreement to continue racing in Formula One, the chances of any form of break-away now seems unlikely.

But, the twelfth and final slot on the 2008 Formula One grid will be taken by Minardi. Today, Paul Stoddard submitted his entry for 'European Minardi F1 team Limited'. This comes under a year since Stoddard sold his team which is now run under Scuderia Toro Rosso.

This is bad news for Dave Richards and his company Prodrive, who a month ago expressed, interested in entering a team in 2008, and even released plans to build a new F1 complex. With all 12 spaces taken (the currently eleven teams and Minardi), it seems unlikely Dave Richards will front a new Formula One team.