New speculation suggests that the Nissan brand might unite with the world of Formula One racing in the near future.

Also reporting a link between the Japanese carmaker and former team owner Alain Prost, French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche said Nissan could join the Grand Prix grid in 2008.

Prost, also a former four time world champion, has reportedly already spoken with Nissan and Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn about the project, after his own team was liquidated in 2001.

Nissan’s corporate Vice-President Simon Sproule is quoted by the newspaper as admitting that F1 is ‘an option’.

“Right now we are involved in regional championships in Japan, the US and in Africa. We have studied the possibility to invest in a worldwide competition,” he added.

Sproule said Nissan personnel have attended several Grand Prix to ‘observe, learn and understand the discipline’s finer details’.

Rumours earlier this year indicated that Renault, who owns just over 40 percent of Nissan, were considering simply changing the name of its Formula One team to Nissan. Should Nissan decide to enter Formula One, they would need to take over an existing team.

[GMM]

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