The Caterham F1 team has insisted "it is business as usual at Suzuka before the Japanese Grand Prix after a turbulent week saw claim and counterclaim over the seizure of some of the team’s equipment by bailiffs," according to Giles Richards of the London GUARDIAN.
Fears they would not be able to compete in the race "appear to have diminished with the cars and drivers present and correct in the paddock but the future of the team, based in Leafield, Oxfordshire, looks increasingly in doubt." Driver Marcus Ericsson said that the team were "proceeding with their race weekend in Suzuka as planned." Ericsson: "For me the preparation is normal, here on track everything is normal. What is going on back home, I have no idea."
This week, however, "has been far from normal." On Wednesday bailiffs "published on their website a list of equipment they said had been seized from Leafield and intended to auction, including a test car, pit equipment and steering wheels."
Caterham reacted "by issuing a statement denying the claims."
The list of equipment "has been removed from the bailiff’s website in the last 12 hours, although the items crucial for the race would have been shipped to Japan before any confiscation could have occurred" (GUARDIAN, 10/2).
TEAM DENIES REPORT: PITPASS' Chris Balfe reported a McLaren spokesperson has dismissed a media report that former F1 driver "Gerhard Berger is to 'replace' Ron Dennis at the helm" of the team. Auto Bild reported Dennis is under "increasing pressure" from the team's Bahraini investors. Asked for a comment on the claim, which has already been dismissed by Berger, a McLaren spokesperson said, "This is complete and utter nonsense" (PITPASS, 10/2).
