American Cypher Group Targets F1 Entry

By Jonathan Noble
Thursday, July 8th 2010, 07:49 GMT

The American-based Cypher Group has submitted an official application to join the Formula 1 grid next year, after confirming a tie-up with driver Jonathan Summerton.

Cypher is believed to include former members of the failed Team US F1, who are adamant that the United States is able to produce a competitive grand prix outfit despite failing with the Charlotte-based operation.

In a statement issued overnight - and just hours after ART Grand Prix announced it was pulling out of its plans to move into F1 - Cypher said: "We have officially submitted our candidature and hope that we will shortly be selected by the FIA as the 13th entry in the 2011 FIA Formula One World Championship. We aspire to bring America's red, white, and blue back into Formula 1."

Summerton, who has raced successfully in F3 and A1GP, had been linked with US F1 and is pushing hard to make the move into grand prix racing.
The Cypher statement added: "Jonathan is capable of racing against the top Formula 1 drivers and we hope to be able to give him a competitive car. We look forward to the opportunity of being on the starting grid in 2011."

Cypher looks set to be going up against Epsilon Euskadi, Stefan GP and Durango for the 13th slot on the F1 grid. The effort is also totally separate from the push by former US F1 representative Parris Mullins to lead American efforts into a tie-up with a current team.

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Take #2.....or take #22?

 

Let me get this right. He has F3 and A1GP seat time, so he is automatically capable of competing against top F1 drivers?

Hell, a seven time F1 WDC champion can't even compete against the top F1 drivers.

 

This has to be a joke, right? I want to see a US-based F1 team just as much as the next guy but the timing couldn't be more wrong.

This is the absolute worst possible time to introduce a US team to Formula 1, hot on the tail of USF1 tanking in such a massive (and embarrassing) way. Amidst doubts that the US will have a successful Grand Prix in Austin in 2012, trying to get a new F1 team off the ground is suicide.

 

Hey now, quit pissing in my cornflakes!

 

I want it to happen just as badly as you do. I already set up a USGP fund!

 

I am just as much wanting this as you. Austin is awesome, I never want to move (unless it was to Monaco), but this GP is really on the rocks.