ALAN BALDWIN
LONDON, England - The struggling Caterham Formula 1 team is facing more trouble off the track since the indebted company that manufactured its cars was placed under administration.
Sources close to the England-based team, last in the championship and yet to score a point since it entered F1 in 2010, told Reuters on Tuesday (Oct 22 2014) that the legal action should not affect racing activities.
However, the team recognised that the situation was fluid and complications could not be ruled out.
F1 TEAM SAFE
A senior source who did not want to be named said: "There should not be a threat. This should not affect the F1 operation because it is a completely separate company."
Three 2014 races remain, Round 17 being the 2014 US GP in Austin, Texas, on November 2 before Brazil and Abu Dhabi.
Bailiffs seized items from the teams factory in Leafield, near London,earlier in October 2014 in an action against Caterham Sports Limited (CSL), the company now under administration and which the team's new owners say does not belong to them.
The Caterham F1 team was sold by Malaysian entrepreneur Tony Fernandes, who is also chairman of English Premier League soccer club Queens Park Rangers, to a mystery consortium in July. The group, advised by former F1 team boss Colin Kolles, has been fighting since then to put Caterham on a stable footing and secure the team's survival.
The rights to enter the F1 championship are held by Malaysian-registered 1Malaysia racing Team (1MRT) rather than CSL, which previously provided services and was also based at Leafield.
DISCUSSIONS HELD
CSL, which also employed the F1 team staff before the takeover, was placed under administration on October 17 2014.
London-based administrators Smith & Williamson said discussions had been held with the F1 team's principal Manfredi Ravetto and financial backers: "It's hoped these will lead to a financially acceptable arrangement for the continuation of the relationship between the company and the F1 team."
1MRT was now dealing directly with its own suppliers.