FIA Receive Enquiry from Would-be German Team

World motorsport's governing body have yet to receive a formal application from a new German Formula One team seeking to race in the championship next season, an FIA source said on Thursday.

"We received an initial enquiry to which we've replied," the International Automobile Federation (FIA) source told Reuters, describing that approach as an expression of intent.

"We have received no response since."

German businessman Oliver Behring, who negotiated to buy the failed Arrows team last year, was quoted this week as saying by the sport1.de website that he had already put in an application to the FIA. He added that his German Grand Prix Racing team would compete in the first race of 2004 in Melbourne and had secured financing until the end of that year.

Formula One currently has 10 teams and two vacant slots after the collapse of Prost and Arrows since the start of 2002.

However, new entrants are still required to pay the FIA a deposit of $48 million, a condition that remains in force despite speculation that it would be waived for suitable applicants in the light of the tough financial climate.

A source close to the discussions suggested that the deposit was introduced to cut out time wasters and said: "The bond could be phased out but it is still there at the moment."

The last new entrant to Formula One was Toyota in 2002.