Mazzacane Claims he has a Contract with 12th Team

Argentine driver Gaston Mazzacane has claimed that he has a contract with the new Formula One team that are aiming to compete in this year's Formula One World Championship.

26-year old Mazzacane, who was sacked from the Prost Grand Prix team last year after only four races, said that he was due to travel to England next week to start his preparations with the new squad, owned by British businessman Charles Nickerson.

"I have a contract and I've been asked by the team to be in London on Monday," Mazzacane was quoted as saying by Argentine news agency DyN. "They are working on building the car and once that is done they will decide whether to show up in the next race in Malaysia or in Brazil."

Nickerson, who purchased the Prost team's assets after the French squad were placed into liquidation at the end of January, is working to ensure that his team will be able to compete as soon as possible, despite not having yet announced which cars, engines or tyres they will use.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone earlier this week ruled out the possibility of the new team competing at the Malaysian Grand Prix next week, but despite the confusion surrounding Nickerson's squad, Mazzacane's manager Jack Kremer has claimed that they will take part in this year's Championship.

"A lot of things are being said and there is a lot of speculation, but there is a signed contract and the truth is that the team will take part in the Formula One World Championship," said Kremer.

"From London, they have confirmed that everything is under control and they've told us not to worry about all the news that we might hear."