July 23, 2003
New teams Simsoa and JTM are currently negotiating with engine manufacturers to provide their powerplants for the remainder of the 2003 season. It is rumoured that most of the engine manufacturers who provided now defunct teams at the start of the 2003 season have offered engine deals and that Mercedes-Benz have entered the fray.

Of course, it was Mercedes-Benz who were due to supply MCR until they dropped out of F1 racing back in December 2002, thus leaving the major car builder with no team for the 2003 season.