pchall
08-12-10, 09:08 AM
ripped from autosport (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/85917)
Both Hellmund and Ecclestone believe F1 could succeed in Austin even without local talent involved. Since Scott Speed's departure from Toro Rosso, there have been no American drivers in F1, and the Charlotte-based US F1 team failed to make the grid this year. Fellow US outfit Cypher Group recently withdrew its bid for a 2011 entry.
"Of course it would be fantastic to have an American driver," said Hellmund. "A team would great, sure, but it's no real necessity."
Ecclestone added: "Regarding an American driver, we have tried that lately but obviously what's missing is the right attitude. You can race successfully in the US without the huge effort you need to succeed in Formula 1. But to have someone like Danica Patrick in F1 would be a perfect advert."
Hellmund believes 'local' interest could instead come from Mexico if GP2 frontrunner Sergio Perez makes it into F1 by 2012.
"There is that young Mexican driver Perez who is doing a great job in GP2 right now," said Hellmund. "For him the 2012 US Grand Prix could be a sort of home race: the distance from Austin to Mexico is a mere 250 kilometres."
The Princess Permapout would make for great press coverage, Imagine her hissy fit when she gets blown into the weed every lap and qualifies and races DFL.
Both Hellmund and Ecclestone believe F1 could succeed in Austin even without local talent involved. Since Scott Speed's departure from Toro Rosso, there have been no American drivers in F1, and the Charlotte-based US F1 team failed to make the grid this year. Fellow US outfit Cypher Group recently withdrew its bid for a 2011 entry.
"Of course it would be fantastic to have an American driver," said Hellmund. "A team would great, sure, but it's no real necessity."
Ecclestone added: "Regarding an American driver, we have tried that lately but obviously what's missing is the right attitude. You can race successfully in the US without the huge effort you need to succeed in Formula 1. But to have someone like Danica Patrick in F1 would be a perfect advert."
Hellmund believes 'local' interest could instead come from Mexico if GP2 frontrunner Sergio Perez makes it into F1 by 2012.
"There is that young Mexican driver Perez who is doing a great job in GP2 right now," said Hellmund. "For him the 2012 US Grand Prix could be a sort of home race: the distance from Austin to Mexico is a mere 250 kilometres."
The Princess Permapout would make for great press coverage, Imagine her hissy fit when she gets blown into the weed every lap and qualifies and races DFL.