McLAREN boss Martin Whitmarsh has revealed the Formula One Teams' Association has already received enquiries from several potential entrants looking to join their breakaway series.
FIA president Max Mosley has described FOTA's announcement of a rebel championship as posturing and posing, but the teams concerned appear deadly serious.
Mosley is confident come the traditional season-opener in Australia next March, the eight r
ebels – including Ferrari – will be back on board.
First, though, a legal battle looms after the FIA yesterday issued proceedings against all eight teams.
Yet FOTA – Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, BMW Sauber, Toyota, Brawn GP, Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso – appear intent on severing all ties with the FIA and, if they succeed, they are willing to bring other teams on board.
Lola this week surprisingly withdrew their prospective F1 entry and another high-profile candidate in Prodrive could follow suit.
Asked if eight teams could sustain a rebel series, and whether FOTA would welcome the likes of Lola and Prodrive, Whitmarsh replied: "I think eight will be enough.
"But we would welcome any new teams, or existing teams for that matter, and certainly there has been an expression of interest from some of the teams you mentioned.
"I think a lot of teams want to be racing against the Ferraris, Red Bulls, Brawns and, hopefully, ourselves."
