Remy Brouard, general manager of Automobile CLub de l'Ouest (ACO), the organization behind the legendary Le Mans endurance race, said he would welcome as many teams as F1 can give. "There is no ideal figure, the more the better. They are welcome here. If they want to make proposals, we will listen," Brouard told Autosport.
A fracture at such a base level in Formula 1 could spell disaster for the series, much as the division between IRL and CART in American open-wheeled racing led to a poorer image and smaller fan base for both series. The two leagues have since unified, but the damage done during their years at odds should serve as a cautionary tale for F1.
Whatever the outcome for the 2010 F1 season, however, it would be interesting to see some of the top-tier manufacturers take on Le Mans once again, and set about creating new legends the way only endurance racing can.