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The team with which Sam MacLeod starred in the Macau Grand Prix is days away from having to quit the Formula 3 European Championship.

Team West-Tec has no drivers signed for 2016 and is now offering half-season deals in a bid to get someone on board before the championship's February 15 entry deadline.

West-Tec founder Gavin Wills told Autosport: "There's no way we're going to give up - we've been here 28 years but this is the most difficult time we've ever experienced, at a point where the team has never been better, both technical and resource-wise.

"A lot of drivers are frightened that they have to sign a one-year contract, so we have to be realistic and give them a good package that fits [in the current financial climate]."

MacLeod ran second in the Macau GP in one of West-Tec's brace of Dallara-Mercedes cars, but touched a wall and sustained a puncture.

"Sam is desperate to carry on with us but his sponsor is Castrol and this is not a good time for oil companies," added Wills.

"He's still working on it, we talk daily and it would be our dream to run him - it's unfinished business, especially after Macau.

"It would be a travesty if we didn't get him out."

Wills, who added that the European F3 cars have undergone R&D work by West-Tec chief engineer Mick Kouros over the winter, says that he is also prepared to offer similar half-season deals and even one-offs for West-Tec's four-car Euroformula Open team.

The Corby-based squad won that title in 2013 with current Indy Lights star Ed Jones.