Mar.2 (GMM) Jose Maria Lopez has set his sights on becoming reserve driver in 2010 at the new team currently known as Campos.
Victor Rosso, who is part of the Argentinean driver’s entourage, told Cadena 3 Cordoba radio that manager Felipe McGough has been working on extracting the 26-year-old from his contract with the failing USF1 team.
It is expected that Campos, to shortly rename its team Hispania Racing, will contest its debut season this year with Karun Chandhok and Bruno Senna in the cockpits.
“There is a big chance he can be the Campos reserve driver,” said Rosso.
He also said McGough is working on getting back the $830,000 advance that was paid to USF1.
“Being able to turn the tables at the last moment gives us a little bit of relief, because the past 15 days we have lived would not be wished upon my worst enemy,” said Rosso.
Lopez’s father and namesake confirmed to Ultima Vuelta that McGough – at USF1’s Charlotte base – indeed succeeded in terminating the USF1 contract.
“It was a tricky situation, but now we are free,” he said.
“We had to find a solution so that Jose Maria was no longer tied to the US team contract.”
McGough said the Lopez group has a “good relationship” with Campos’ new owner Jose Ramon Carabante.
“We have already told him that Lopez is free, they are aware of everything, and now we are waiting to see what is decided in Europe.
“We are looking at anything that allows Jose Maria to stay in formula one, also as the reserve driver,” said McGough, adding that one possibility is that Lopez could contest the Friday morning practice sessions.
He was particularly critical of the USF1 team principal Ken Anderson.
“Ken Anderson and Peter Windsor will travel to Argentina in the coming days to give all the explanations about everything that happened, since the sole responsibility is theirs.
“The main culprit is Ken Anderson. They deceived the FIA, FOTA, FOM and the Concorde Agreement. The scandal in Argentina is miniscule compared to what is happening in formula one with respect to this issue.”
