Arrows Confirm Appeal Plans

Struggling Arrows have told Formula One's governing body that they will fight to be reinstated in next year's Championship.

"Arrows is very surprised at being omitted from the list of entrants for the 2003 FIA Formula One world championship published yesterday," Arrows Grand Prix International said in a statement today.

"Arrows confirms that it has served notice to the FIA of its intention to appeal to the appropriate body for a hearing to resolve this issue. Arrows remains committed to securing the future of the team."

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) issued its entry list on Monday with just 10 teams and a footnote explaining that British-based Arrows's application had been turned down.

FIA sources said the decision was final. New teams wanting to enter the championship must first post a $48 million bond with the FIA.

Daniele Audetto, commercial director of team owner Tom Walkinshaw's TWR Group and a former Ferrari boss, was quoted in Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper as saying Arrows would appeal to the FIA's F1 commission.

German Interest

Audetto said Arrows had paid some $300,000 to register their entry by the official deadline and were on the brink of being sold to German businessman Oliver Behring as the representative of a group of Arab investors.

"It's true that they had not yet paid us but they were waiting to do so after the world championship entry had been confirmed," he said.

Arrows, who have been in Formula One for 25 years without ever winning a race, missed the last five grands prix of the season and also deliberately failed to qualify in France as financial troubles took their toll.

Walkinshaw pleaded unavoidable circumstances, saying the team had been given legal advice not to compete while negotiations were underway to sell the team.

The team, who have sought to go into administration, also faces important legal obstacles ahead with creditors seeking payment and German driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen leading a winding up petition.

The absence of Arrows from the 2003 lineup caused concern among some rivals at the continuing dangers to the sport of the harsh financial climate.

Minardi, British American Racing, Jordan and Jaguar have all laid off staff this year while Arrows are in danger of becoming the second failure after the French Prost team folded in January.

"People have got to start taking the issue of there possibly not being enough cars on the grid in future pretty seriously," Jordan's business development director Ian Phillips told The Guardian newspaper.

"It could drop from 20 to 16 cars by the start of the 2004 season and if something isn't done urgently then I would say there is a fair chance of that happening."