Among all the Formula 1 teams that have never actually taken part in a race, few are as famous as Stefan GP. The project led by Zoran Stefanović, a Serbian engineer and businessman, perched between meme and dream, and became the thorn in the FIA’s side, an authority that would never permit him to prove what they could achieve.
Stefan GP bought the remnants of Toyota, including their brand-new TF110 that never raced. They signed Jacques Villeneuve as driver, and offered financial guarantees. But the FIA never liked their irreverence, so while spots were being granted to teams that hadn’t even debuted, Stefanović saw his dream cut short.
Stefan GP had Toyota and Jacques Villeneuve backing it, but the FIA opposed them
2010 was a year of many changes in Formula 1. The FIA aimed to expand the grid from ten to thirteen teams, which would mean 26 drivers on track, but the plan began poorly: Honda, BMW and Toyota announced their withdrawal due to the 2008 financial crisis. To reach thirteen teams, it was necessary to throw the doors open wide. And there was a rush.
Mercedes, after its glorious stint with BrawnGP, kept Honda’s leftovers, Sauber recovered what BMW had once owned, and the FIA handed Lotus Toyota’s seat. We remained at ten teams, but now three more were needed to reach thirteen. The FIA opened a bidding contest and fifteen applications arrived for three spots. One of them, Stefan GP.
Stefan GP had behind it Zoran Stefanović, and it wasn’t the first time they tried to break into Formula 1. They had already done so on two occasions in the late ’90s by purchasing Lola, but it failed. Now, after nearly two decades of operation, Stefan GP appeared the FIA’s number-one favorite to be selected.
On the day of the official announcement, no one could believe it. The FIA had chosen Virgin Racing, Campos Meta and USF1. Not a trace of Stefan GP, the favorite. Zoran Stefanović exploded with anger. The Serb knew what had happened: the FIA did not want anyone attempting to create an autonomous, self-owned team, preferring instead people who subcontracted and could guarantee two cars on track.
Stefan GP intended to build its own chassis and entire car, and then negotiate for the best possible engine. The three selected teams shared a common plan: Cosworth engine, the FIA standard, and a Dallara chassis. The factory, a waypoint for doing the bare minimum. Eleven of the twelve rejected applicants accepted the decision. Stefan GP, did not.
The Serbian entrepreneur took the FIA to court, while continuing to work on getting his cars onto the Bahrain track for the season opener, hoping to be accepted. Especially after USF1 confirmed it would not be able to race on the grid. The first of the three teams chosen by the FIA fell by the wayside before even starting.
Campos Meta also came close to failing, though they made it to Bahrain at the last moment by linking up with Hispania, becoming the first Spanish Formula 1 team. But Stefan GP aimed to take USF1’s slot and intensified its bid: bought all Toyota’s equipment, including the TF110, the Japanese-made car that never competed.
Stefan GP even conducted private tests with the TF110, with Kazuki Nakajima as one of the drivers. The Japanese was to be one of their pilots. The other was a world champion, Jacques Villeneuve. And as tester, Pastor Maldonado. Stefanović had crafted a dream team to enter Formula 1. All that remained was the FIA.
But the FIA never arrived. They dragged out the decision so long that Toyota deemed it impossible to reach the 2010 season, and they backed away, keeping the deal alive for 2011 if Stefan GP were accepted. Despite all the financial guarantees, the FIA did not approve Stefan GP. They were so upset by the legal battle he had posed that they preferred to abandon the thirteen-team plan rather than let him race.
The European Commission never resolved, and Stefan GP had to withdraw its candidacy. In 2015 and even in 2019 there were new attempts to enter Formula 1, but by then it was far too late. Stefanović’s pride had led him into a strategic error: suing the FIA doomed him to never enter Formula 1.
Images | StefanGP, Toyota
