Hass all set to name engine supplier

American team owner Gene Haas has confirmed that his team are close to signing a deal for a engine manufacturer.

The FIA announced in December that they had opened the tendering process for a new team to enter Formula One as early as 2015.

The Formula One paddock shrank to eleven teams after the former Hispania/HRT team dissolved at the end of the 2012 season.

So the news of a new ’12th team’ to enter the sport was excellent news, especially a veteran motor sport team like that of American outfit Haas.

Haas has had many years in American motor racing, he co-owned the Indy Car team Newman-Haas which 1992 Formula One World Champion Nigel Mansell won the 1993 title with and alongside Tony Stewart, he now owns a team in USA’s top motor sport series NASCAR.

He’s also affiliated with Guenther Steiner, a former technical director at Red Bull and Jaguar and will bring a fresh approach to the Formula One grid.

Haas has previously opened talks with Italian chassis manufacturer Dallara regarding their first development, however there had yet to be any news on a possible engine deal, but that looks set to change in the immediate future.

?We haven?t signed a deal yet so I don?t want to overstep my boundaries and put the cart before the horse. But we are in negotiations and hopefully we will have something in the next few weeks,? Hass told Sky Sports.

With Hass looking to enter Formula One in 2016 they potentially have four engine manufacturers to hold talks with; Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault are all active in Formula One right now, whilst Honda return to the sport with McLaren in 2015.