The Hindu : Sport / Racing : Motor : Nine teams to boycott meeting with FIA

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 09, 2005

Sport

Sport - Racing : Motor

Nine teams to boycott meeting with FIA

LONDON, APRIL 8. Nine Formula One teams and five carmakers decided on Thursday to boycott a meeting next week with auto racing's world governing body, boosting their bid to start their own series in 2008.

FIA president Max Mosley called the meeting for April 15 to discuss regulations for the 2008 season. A similar meeting on January 28 was also boycotted by the nine teams, with only Ferrari attending.

In addition to the nine teams, five of the manufacturers in Formula One — BMW, Mercedes, Renault, Toyota and Honda — also participated in the decision to decline Mosley's invitation.

``At this stage we feel it would be unwise to go to a meeting with the FIA and Ferrari to discuss the 2008 regulations,'' Minardi team owner Paul Stoddart said after the London meeting. ``We are still holding completely together.''

After last season, Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone persuaded Ferrari to break away from the other nine teams and sign a long-term deal to stay with his series. In getting Ferrari to commit until 2012, he angered the rest of the F1 paddock.

Another bloc

The fallout has resulted in a bloc of three — Mosley, Ecclestone and Ferrari — against the so-called group of nine-plus-five (nine teams, five manufacturers).

``Today's meeting was another very positive step forward for the group, characterized by a complete consensus among all members,'' said Burkhard Goeschel of BMW, who chaired the meeting.

Stoddart said a meeting with Mosley and Ecclestone likely was to take place in July or August, after the Grand Prix World Championship and the teams decide on their vision of Formula One.

The Concorde Agreement, which spells out how money is divided and how the sport is governed, expires after the 2007 season.

BMW, Mercedes and Renault are the founding member of GPWC. Toyota and Honda have not officially joined, but are supporting them. — AP

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport