US F1 car to make Alabama debut

The Charlotte-based squad has confirmed its car will have an American debut before it travels to Europe to begin testing ahead of its maiden Formula 1 season.

"Because we are a new team and start everything from zero the first time we will run the car will be in the United States at the Barber Motorsport Park in Alabama, the circuit that was nominated by the FIA for us," sporting director Peter Windsor told the official Formula 1 website.

"We've got the dispensation from the FIA, which is fantastic, because we are not based in Europe. We are the only team that does have a test circuit outside Europe, so it is totally logical for us that we run the car the first time in the US at the beginning of February."

Windsor said the team is allowed to carry out three testing sessions in the US, but will then fly to Spain to join its rivals.

He added that US F1 is on the verge of announcing its drivers for the upcoming season.

"We are very close to announcing our drivers," he said. "We've been talking to some great racing drivers over the last couple of months - and it is very difficult choosing from the good drivers that are around.

"I think there are still a lot and the difficult thing is to choose only two out of ten that are available. It's a difficult job and I hate having to do that. We have not signed our forward deals yet in terms of the contracts, but we are pretty near to announcing."