Monday 11 January at 10:01 : Jan.11 (GMM) Team sources have denied suggestions that USF1 has asked to be excused from the opening races of the 2010 season.

According to Italy's Gazzetta Sportiva, the American team has requested dispensation to sit out the flyaway rounds Bahrain, Australia, Malaysia and China in March and April, and instead make its formula one debut the following month in Barcelona.

But late on Sunday, sources close to USF1 denied the reports, instead echoing Peter Windsor's comments of last week.

The USF1 sporting director had told F1's official website: "I can't say any more than that we will definitely be on the Bahrain grid."

Two more news developments also indicate that USF1's intention to travel to Bahrain remains on track.

The team has signed Australian John Anderson, well known in American open wheel racing and most recently working with Gil de Ferran's American Le Mans team, to be its team manager.

Secondly, the team said the nose section of its 2010 car "performed well" when it was crash-tested in England last week.