Former F1 team owner and current BBC annoyance Eddie Jordan has confidently predicted that Stefan GP will be on the Bahrain GP grid, saying that Jacques Villeneuve will drive for them, and that Chad Hurley might still join the team.
Jordan has become renowned for wild guesses and predictions over the future of Formula One in recent months, but gained some much-needed credibility when he correctly guessed that Michael Schumacher would make a return to the grid in 2010.
And his latest crystal ball-gazing has led him to surmise that the Serbian team, still without an entry into the 2010 championship despite having both of their Toyota-based cars nearly ready and a driver already signed in Kazuki Nakajima, will be on the grid in Bahrain.
"My understanding is that they will be in Bahrain with Jacques Villeneuve driving," Jordan told his employers in a BBC report.
1997 champion Villeneuve has been linked with a drive with the team for some time, with Stefan GP boss Zoran Stefanovic saying that they are close to a deal with the Canadian that would see him drive alongside Nakajima next year.
Jordan believes that the team will replace the USF1 team, which is rumoured to have asked the FIA to defer their entry until the 2011 season over their continued financial issues.
Although the American team is reportedly offering to pay the FIA a "seven-figure sum" to guarantee their place on the 2011 grid, it has been suggested that the FIA is planning to revoke their entry based on the results of technical delegate Charlie Whiting's visit to the team's headquarters last week.
Jordan believes that YouTube founder Chad Hurley, currently the main investor in USF1, could well move to Stefan GP in time for the start of 2010.
"Don't be surprised if the backer of US F1 - YouTube founder Chad Hurley - joins up with Stefanovich[sic]," Jordan mumbled.
Stefan GP released a statement on Sunday in which they said that they were looking forward "to being allowed to show everyone our team in Bahrain".
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