Gene Haas, co-owner of Nascar motor racing team Stewart-Haas, has entered an application to launch a new American Formula One team through his Haas Racing Developments outfit.

Haas confirmed in a statement that Haas Racing Development “has responded to the FIA’s (International Motorsport Federation) ‘call for expression of interest’ regarding a Formula One entry.” It is believed that Haas is working with former Red Bull Racing and Jaguar technical director Gunther Steiner on the F1 project.

Steiner said: “Haas Racing Developments has asked for a licence and expressed an interest, but at the moment we have no further comment to make. The FIA is still in the decision-making process and there is still one more step to go before they award the licence.”

The FIA, motorsport’s global governing body, in December launched a tender process seeking expressions of interest from would-be new teams for a potential slot on the Formula One grid from the 2015 or 2016 season. Potential new entries were asked to lodge a formal expression of interest by January 3, with the FIA adding that it expected that full applications would need to be submitted by February 10, leading to a decision on February 28.

Source: Sportbusiness