SACKED F1 boss Mike Gascoyne could return to the sport next year if the FIA's proposed recession-busting cost cuts go ahead.

Technical guru Gascoyne, who left Toyota in 2006 and Force India last year, has joined up with Norfolk-based F3 team Litespeed and submitted a budget entry for the 2010 F1 season.

Teams have until the end of the month to submit entries under next years controversial voluntary £40million budget cap - which allows capped teams to operate with greater technical freedom than those continuing with unlimited budgets.

Five teams, including Ferrari, Renault and Red Bull Racing, have threatened to quit the sport if the rule change goes ahead - fearing it will create a two tier system.

But Litespeed boss Nino Judge said: "We don't yet know whether the budget cap team rules will be changed, and obviously we don't know if our application will be accepted. The cap may be dropped altogether.

"There is space and a need in the arena for independent teams and the technical leeway given to the budget-capped teams allows for a competitive performance within the financial parameters.

"The point is that there is not much time for the project to get on to the 2010 grid and we have to take some risks in order to maximise time for preparation."

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TROY WONDER

TROY BAYLISS - enthusiasm

TRIPLE superbike world champ Troy Bayliss could become Ducati's saviour after agreeing to keep testing with the beleaguered squad.

With the majority of their riders languishing midfield, Ducati called on the experienced racer at a Mugello test this week in an attempt to get the squad back to the top of the time sheets.

The retired Australian said: "I've had three good days during which I've felt like a rider again, It didn't take long to get back into it but, before anyone gets any ideas, I will also say that I'm happy to be heading back to the airport and towards Australia and home this evening - I have no intention of returning to racing!

"Having said that, I have had fun and we worked each day on the bike and each day I was able to push harder, until I started to record some respectable times.

"Now I'll stay home for a while but later in June or July I'll be back in Europe for a few weeks. I will probably test the bike again during that time, I don't know exactly when, but I am very happy to play a part in this project.

"It was nice to shake off a bit of rust and with Mugello being such a physical circuit it was a good work-out."

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TRIBUTE TO JOE TANDY

BRITISH motorsport is in mourning this week after much-loved team boss Joe Tandy was killed in a car crash.

The former racer and team chief of Formula Ford and F3 outfit JTR died on Wednesday after a collision near his Bedfordshire home.

A team spokesman said: "Joe's loss is an immense blow for the team and, it goes without saying, for his family and many friends.

"All we wish to communicate at this stage is our sense of loss, and our absolute determination to move forward with both the JTR Formula 3 and Formula Ford teams, exactly as Joe would have wanted."

The team will continue its programmes with Joe's younger brother Nick, who races for the squad and lies second in the British F3 standings.

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