Caterham F1 team close to closing doors after bailiffs seize F1 equipment? (3rd Update)
Caterham sources said that "work on next year's car at Leafield had 'ground to a halt,' with difficulties buying in materials for construction."
Their concern is that the 180 jobs at the team’s factory "will be lost" as Colin Kolles — the "former Spyker boss who masterminded the takeover from Tony Fernandes a few months ago" — relocates the operation to continental Europe, "most likely Germany."
Incoming team principal Manfredi Ravetto "insists that the 2015 car is being tested at Toyota's wind tunnel in Cologne, Germany, and it is their intention to be on the grid next season." The alarm at Caterham "comes as the future of several teams at the back of the grid remains uncertain."
Marussia has been the "subject of persistent rumors that they do not have enough funds to finish the season."
Marussia Sporting Dir Graeme Lowdon said, "I can say that, yes, we have the funds for this season. If we didn't, we shouldn't be here. Nobody can state unequivocally they will be racing next season. Not a single person in this pit lane can do that." TELEGRAPH
10/02/14 (GMM) The signs are growing stronger that Caterham may not make it to the end of the 2014 season.
Already this week, rumors were doing the rounds that unpaid suppliers Pirelli and Renault are growing increasingly impatient with the situation in the wake of founder Tony Fernandes' shock mid-season exit.
Then, as the newly Colin Kolles-led team prepared at Suzuka for the Japanese grand prix on Wednesday, alarming news from Caterham's UK factory began to emerge.
High Court bailiffs confirmed they had seized team equipment including components and a 2013 car, and the Telegraph claims staff were told to go home as work on next year's car grinds "to a halt".
The bailiffs also revealed that F1 parts "due for Japan 2014" were among those seized on Wednesday.
Caterham swiftly hit back at what it described as "unfounded and unsubstantiated rumors".
"An action was threatened yesterday against a supplier company", it said in a statement. "This company is not owned by (the team) and it has no influence over the entry of Caterham or the entrant.
"Also contrary to uncontrolled rumors, all operations are currently in place at Leafield and the race team is doing its preparation in Japan," the team insisted.
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Sources close to the team say that the team members were paid yesterday, on schedule.
Caterham’s ability to participate in this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix will also depend on whether the servers are all still running at the Leafield factory.
Sources with knowledge of the team’s operations suggest that without the servers operational the cars will not be able to run.
Reuters quotes a team source saying Wednesday night that the servers are currently operational.
This latest news comes against the backdrop of a fresh push by Bernie Ecclestone to introduce three car teams in the face of expected financial troubles for a number the weakest of the current teams on the grid.
F1 teams share an annual prize fund of over $750 million, but the distribution is heavily weighted towards the top five teams.
10/01/14 Caterham F1 Team statement:
There have been unfounded and unsubstantiated rumors concerning actions against 1MRT, the entrant and owner of CaterhamF1.
An action was threatened yesterday against a supplier company to 1MRT. This company is not owned by 1MRT and it has no influence over the entry of CaterhamF1 or the entrant.
Also contrary to uncontrolled rumors, all operations are currently in place at Leafield and the race team is doing its preparation in Japan.
10/01/14 By order of The Sheriff's Office, authorized High Court Enforcement Officers, we hereby announce the impending sale of goods seized and removed from a Formula One team.
The goods include but are not limited to:
Caterham F1 test car (2013)
Caterham F1 car parts (due for Japan 2014)
Full size 6 DOF motion platform F1 simulator
Caterham F1 steering wheels
F1 wheels with tires
High quality drilling & machining equipment
Caterham & Lotus F1 memorabilia
Various pit lane equipment including jacks, pumps and starters
TVs, monitors and other goods and equipment
We can confirm the goods have been removed from the Leafield enforcement address and are in secure storage.
The goods are to be sold by public auction to the highest bidder.
Sale by private treaty may be permissible with leave of the court.
The date and location of the sale are yet to be confirmed but early indications are mid-October at a UK location. Interested parties should contact Sheriff's Office to register their interest.