Arrows duo hit the track

Both Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Enrique Bernoldi took to the track in the opening session at the new-look Hockenheim for this weekend's German Grand Prix. The team could face severe consequences if they fail to make a serious attempt ro race this weekend, according to FIA sources.

The financially troubled team failed to qualify in France after each of their drivers only used three of their 12 allocated laps. Data showed that both cars slowed considerably in the final sector after setting competitive times in the other two.

"If Arrows try to do what they did in France again at Hockenheim the race director is very likely to prepare a report for the stewards," a source close to motorsport governing body the FIA told Reuters.

Article 151c of FIA's international sporting code lists as a clear breach of the rules: "any fraudulent conduct or any act prejudicial to the interests of any competition or to the interests of motor sport generally". The independent stewards have a range of sanctions they could enforce upon Arrows, from a simple reprimand to a full-blown ban from this year's championship.