Carlin confirms F1 entry plans.

British F3 International Series title holders Carlin Motorsport has confirmed that it is one of the teams to have lodged an entry to the FIA for the 2008 Formula One championship.

The team - which has fielded cars for drivers including Nico Rosberg, Anthony Davidson, Tiago Monteiro and Takuma Sato in a variety of series - was widely tipped to be one of the outfits looking to step into the big time and will now aim to show the FIA it is worthy of as place on the grid.

Should Carlin be given the nod to join F1, it would see team principal Trevor Carlin return to the paddock having spent time with the Jordan team after it was purchased by the Midland group.

"We believe that the introduction of the new initiatives by the FIA in regard to sporting and technical rule changes for the future of Formula One have been designed to allow successful junior teams such as Carlin Motorsport to make the previously difficult step up to Formula One," Carlin said. "The proposed cost reductions should bring the necessary budgets within our reach.

"We are well underway with building an appropriate infrastructure and have firm commitments from key people who are experienced in F1 design, marketing, management and operations. They will join us if our entry is accepted.

"We have also agreed the purchase of an established facility in the south of England, for design and specialist production and a composite facility near our base to handle the major workload."

Carlin also admitted that, while he is aware of the amount of competition for the place from people like Prodrive and Paul Stoddart, he was confident that his team will be among the front-runners in the race for the final place on the grid when F1 enters its new era.

"We realise that there is considerable competition for the entry and the team's credentials are our success in racing," he said. "We are confident that the requisite finance will be available from our existing contacts if the entry is accepted."