Lola remains prepared to re-start its stillborn F1 project 'at any time' in 2010 and fill any vacancies on the 2011 grid, despite having withdrawn its 2010 application after failing to secure a slot in the FIA's first selection round. Lola owner Martin Birrane says that, despite missing out on one of the four new team spots for 2010, they still have key F1 personnel employed and that Lola would be on the grid in 2011 if given the opportunity.

“We remain in a state of readiness to re-enter Formula One. During 2010 it [the F1 programme] can be re-activated very quickly indeed,” said Birrane, originally from Co. Meath in Ireland. “We have the model and base data, production and project plans, a completed chassis bonding jig. We have also kept on some key personnel that were hired for the original plan.

“Should the opening arise, then Lola is the only company who can fill a space on the grid very quickly with a well designed and competitive F1 car. For 2011, the F1 team personnel cap of 280 will come in to force. We certainly welcome that as it fits almost perfectly with the current operation we have in Huntingdon.

“A Lola Formula One Team would welcome the opportunity to compete in the 2011 World Championship. It could be ready, able and willing to re-activate the programme at any time.”

Birrane, who funded the inital phase of Lola's F1 project from his own pocket, withdrew his application for 2010 because of the conflict that was brewing between F1's governing body the FIA, and the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA), claiming the new team entries were being used as pawns in the infamous dispute.

“It was something of a mystery to us at first [not to be chosen] but clearly we were to some extent being used as pawns between the FIA and FOTA,” he said, referring to FOTA's threat to run a breakaway series at the height of its dispute with the FIA. “The conflict was very disturbing to us and certainly one potential investor was completely put off by it.

“We decided to withdraw our application because we did not wish to be used in this political dispute. There was so much infighting and uncertainty at that stage and all we wanted to do was go racing.”