Arrows Not Travelling to France Before Deal is Done

Arrows boss Tom Walkinshaw has refused to allow his team to travel to France for this weekend's Grand Prix at Magny-Cours until a solution to the company's financial problems has been found.

Walkinshaw must now find a reported $1.5 million to fund his supply of Cosworth engines on a race-by-race basis, and he is looking to do so without dipping into his own pocket again, as he was forced to do at Silverstone.

The deadline for payment to Cosworth is Wednesday evening, but it seems that the long-time Formula One boss has decided to put a more urgent deadline on the matter as the transporters carrying the cars will have to leave on Tuesday evening to make it to the circuit on time.

"We have to find a solution before setting off," Walkinshaw told Britain's Daily Mail newspaper. "You simply don't want to subject your staff to this nonsense. The only thing that really matters is that my employees have jobs and that those who have supported us get looked after."

Race preparations have been underway at the Leafield Technical Centre, the team's headquarters, and the cars must arrive at the circuit, in the centre of France, in time for the scrutineering cut-off point on Thursday afternoon.

But despite little apparent progress in the on-going negotiations with shareholders Morgan Grenfell to lift an injunction preventing any additional funding to the team, Walkinshaw is confident he will find a solution.

"The fact is that if common sense was applied there is no reason why we shouldn't race this weekend," he said. "People don't realise what the F1 paddock can be like. When people smell blood it can turn into a feeding frenzy."

Walkinshaw, who also has an involvement in British Rugby Union side Gloucester, has already admitted he could be forced to sell his own stake in Arrows but Morgan Grenfell still hold the key to the team's future.