Stefan GP fires up Formula 1 car

The SF01 car, which was designed by Toyota before the Japanese manufacturer decided to leave F1, is scheduled to make its track debut at the end of the month at the Portimao circuit in Portugal.

Speaking to AUTOSPORT, team boss Zoran Stefanovic said everything is going according to plan, and that the car is ready to begin testing after being fired up at Toyota's Cologne factory, of which Stefan GP use, but do not own, two small exclusive areas.

Stefanovic said, however, that the team is still working on a tyre supply deal for its first test.

"This morning, 19 February 2010, was another stepping stone for Stefan Grand Prix," said Stefanovic in a telephone interview. "This morning at 8:00, the first car - Stefan 01 - was fired up for the first time.

"The car ran faultlessly, there was no problem whatsoever, and we could race or test on a racetrack, but we're just waiting for tyres."

The Serbian said his team is already comprised of nearly 60 people plus the staff from Toyota, with which the team has a technical collaboration deal.

He said he is expecting news from the FIA soon, as doubts continue to surround both the Campos Meta and the US F1 teams.

"We are expecting it to be clarified relatively shortly because all of us know what the situation is. In the meantime we are working very heavily on sorting out the drivers' contracts," added Stefanovic, who said talks with former world champion Jacques Villeneuve are progressing well.

The Serbian confirmed, as revealed by AUTOSPORT earlier this month, that former Williams driver Kazuki Nakajima is already part of the team.

"At the moment we have to say that we are very near," he said of drivers.

"We are very near to a contract with Jacques Villeneuve, and probably also with another driver as our reserve driver. But the first one which will be with us is Kazuki Nakajima."