Team Dubai to enter F1 in 2006

Hot on the heels of the Midland F1 project launch two weeks ago, the owners of the new Arab concern have confirmed that Dubai F1 will not after all be based on an existing team and will set-up its own F1 operation over the coming year.

Jordan, which is actively seeking investment and an engine supply for next year, had been in talks with a senior member of the Dubai ruling family, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al-Maktoum, over the sale of the team. But the talks fell through and now Team Dubai F1 has been formed as an independent outfit.

"We ultimately concluded that the acquisition of an existing team would never enable us fully to demonstrate our own commitment and excellence since success would inevitably have been linked with the existing team's brand and values," said Team Dubai representative Tim Fulton.

Team Dubai F1 said in a statement that it planned to place a US$48m bond with the FIA to secure its entry in 2006 and that work is to begin early next year on a technical centre and wind tunnel in Dubai, while the manufacturing facilities for the project will be based in England.

The Midland F1 team confirmed last week that Trevor Carlin, owner of the ultra successful single-seater outfit Carlin Motorsports, would run the new project from Carlin's base in Aldershot. It's not clear whether Team Dubai will follow a similar route, but both US team owner Stefan Johannson and Arden team boss Christian Horner are known to be considering F1 programmes.