F1: FIA block Phoenix race plans
Motor racing chiefs insisted today that Charles Nickerson’s British team would not be allowed to compete in the Formula One World Championship this year.
The sport’s world governing body, FIA, said in a statement that the Phoenix Finance Group had not bought an entry into the championship when they bought some of the assets of the defunct Prost team.
The Phoenix Group, headed by businessman Nickerson, have turned up in Malaysia looking to possibly compete in Sunday’s Grand Prix in Kuala Lumpur.
Arrows boss Tom Walkinshaw is providing technical support to Phoenix through his TWR (Tom Walkinshaw Racing) group.
The FIA said: ‘‘Having examined the judgement of the Tribunal De Commerce De Versailles (the court which declared Prost bankrupt) FIA advisors have noted that the court has not transferred Prost Grand Prix itself or made any attempt to transfer the Prost Grand Prix entry into the 2002 Formula One World Championship, either to Phoenix Finance Limited or to Mr Nickerson.’’
Earlier a spokesperson for Prost told www.formula1.com she believed the cars had arrived in Malaysia ahead of the second round of the championship.
She said: ‘‘We are not involved in any way with the project, but we had confirmation from England that they had the green light to fly to Malaysia.
‘‘They took the two AP04s they had acquired from the liquidator with an engine and gearbox. We don’t know the technical references of this package, but they have two complete cars ready to run.’’
The drivers were believed to be Argentina’s Gaston Mazzacane, who competed for Prost last year, and Brazil’s Tarso Marques, who raced for the Minardi team for most of last season.
But although they had two chassis, it is not known what engines the team planned to run or what tyres they were to be on. Arrows use Bridgestone tyres.
