The first USF1 car will make its debut in the USA

The American team USF1 will run its car for the first time at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama next month. The Charlotte-based team has confirmed the debut of its car on American soil before it heads to Europe to begin testing for its first Formula 1 season.

« Because we are a new team and starting from scratch, we will run our car for the first time in the United States at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama. It is the track that has been designated by the FIA, » explains sporting director Peter Windsor on the official Formula 1 website.

« We obtained this exemption from the FIA, which is fantastic because we are not based in Europe. We are the only team with a testing circuit outside of Europe. Therefore, it makes complete sense to run the car for the first time in the United States at the beginning of February. »

Windsor states that the team is allowed to conduct three testing sessions in the United States, before flying to Spain to join its rivals. He added that USF1 is about to announce its drivers for 2010.

« We are very close to announcing our drivers. We have spoken to some racing drivers over the past two months. The choice has been very difficult with good drivers available. We had to select two out of ten. It’s a tough job and I hate doing it. We haven’t signed all the contract clauses, but we are quite close to the announcement. »