German manufacturer
Audi has conducted a feasibility into F1 entry and found there to be serious support for the idea within the company.
Sources in the German automotive industry insist that the only blockage to Audi entering F1 is the antipathy felt for Ecclestone by the chairman of the VW-Audi board, Ferdinand Piech.
Sources say Piech will not allow any of his brands to enter F1 while Ecclestone is in charge.
Ecclestone said: "Nobody's told me that. If that is the case, I'll leave. I would be happy to step down if it brought those people in."