FORMULA 1: Gene Haas enters

Gene Haas, co-owner of NASCAR team
Stewart-Haas Racing, has revealed his outfit
have been granted a Formula 1 entry for 2015.
With the 12th slot in the sport having remained
unfilled since Spanish minnows HRT folded at
the end of 2012, the FIA in December last year
announced the opening of an application
process to find a new outfit to join the
championship from potentially as early as next
season and Haas made no secret of his
interest of expanding into F1.
Bernie Ecclestone told Martin Brundle
exclusively on Sky Sports F1 ahead of the
Bahrain GP that a team from the USA was
likely to join and Haas's have now confirmed
they have been granted a licence by the FIA.
"Obviously, we're extremely pleased to have
been granted a Formula One license by the
FIA," Haas said.
"It's an exciting time for me, Haas Automation
and anyone who wanted to see an American
team return to Formula 1.
"Now, the really hard work begins. It's a
challenge we embrace as we work to put cars
on the grid. I want to thank the FIA for this
opportunity and the diligence everyone put
forth to see our license application come to
fruition."
The American team may not be the only
newcomers to the grid in the near future, with
Ecclestone also revealing in his chat with
Brundle that "there are another couple of
teams which I think we are going to accept."