GP2 CEO, Bruno Michel, has welcomed Meritus Racing's intention to race in Europe by 2011.

The Malaysian outfit, who are the only Asian team granted a license to compete in GP2 Asia, last week announced their plans to race in GP2 Europe in 2011 with an eye to be ready to compete in F1 five years later.

That plan moved closer to becoming a reality when Michel said he would welcome Asia's most successful racing team - who have won an incredible 32 international titles since 1996 - with open arms.

"Meritus have a special place in GP2 Asia, and I would welcome in advance, not only their participation in the third year of the GP2 Asia Series, but also if they decided to come to the GP2 main series in Europe," said Michel.

"Meritus have integrated well in the new world of GP2 and have shown they can compete at the highest level, a level of motorsport that has produced champions like Nico Rosberg, Heikki Kovalainen and F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton."

As many are aware, GP2 is the F1 development series for drivers and teams. One of the new F1 teams, Campos F1, have spent the last four GP2 Europe seasons training and developing their motorsport technology.

Meritus have similar aspirations and are taking a step-by-step approach to achieve their ultimate goal - to one day race in F1.

The first step is to provide the necessary training to develop a National Malaysian Motorsport Technical (MMT) centre and establish a place of engineering excellence to train Malaysian engineers and technical staff ready to design and produce formula cars for export and hopefully to design a Malaysian F1 car by 2016.

Meritus have clearly impressed Michel with their ability to secure podium finishes and fastest laps in GP2 Asia, despite racing against established European teams, who have the added advantage of testing during the European season.

"I was very impressed with Meritus' first season. In the second season, the team for different reasons did not capitalise on their first podium in Shanghai. A pity and I hope they get the result they deserve in their third season with us," Michel added.