Chad Hurley and Zoran Stefanovich are trying to put together a deal that will see the US F1 and Stefan GP teams join forces and make it to the first race in Bahrain, sources have confirmed.

As previously reported, Hurley has given up on pursuing a deal with Colin Kolles and Campos. Thus the blindingly obvious scenario of a team with no car joining up with a team with no entry finally appears likely to unfold.

We understand that Ken Anderson and Peter Windsor are not amenable to a link with Stefan, and still wish to pursue their dream of fielding an American car.

However, if as rumored Hurley is a major shareholder in the team he is presumably in the driving seat, and that may ultimately enable him to push the merger through.

In addition the visit of Charlie Whiting to Charlotte on Wednesday has given the FIA a clearer picture of what is going on there, and the governing body may now be in a position to force the issue and perhaps give Anderson and Windsor no alternative but to do a deal.

The FIA will in theory have no problem in allowing Stefan onto the Bahrain grid if such a deal takes place before the start of the season. It would also support a name change, although other F1 stakeholders would also have to agree.

Life will be much easier for the FIA if a merger does go ahead. The alternative scenario – the canceling of the US F1 entry and a new bid process – would be far more complicated legally.

Stefan already has a base in Serbia and also has a foothold at the Toyota factory in Cologne. However the US F1 facility in Charlotte could still be of use as a manufacturing base. It may prove more economical to have parts made in the USA than by Toyota.

Ultimately there’s also a question of the 2011 car, which won’t necessarily be a Toyota product. US F1 also has access to the Windshear wind tunnel facility.

Sources say that one Toyota/Stefan chassis is ready in Cologne, but the second is not yet complete, and a total lack of spares back-up will make the early races difficult.

We have also learned that the engine will not be badged as a Toyota, although the company will send a handful of fulltime staff members to races to support it. They are likely to be the only current Toyota employees to travel to the races with Stefan.

Meanwhile Jacques Villeneuve is on standby and will be willing to sign up as teammate to Kazuki Nakajima, should the team get an entry.