Arrows Set to Miss Italian Grand Prix

Arrows are set to miss this weekend's Italian Formula One Grand Prix, a source close to the team said today.

"Unofficially, we're not going," the source, who did not want to be identified, told Reuters. "The cars are still at the factory."

There was no official word from the struggling team, who have failed to compete in three of the last four races as they try to finalise a sale, and a spokeswoman could not be contacted. Official scrutineering for Sunday's race at Monza is on Thursday afternoon and the team would be hard-pressed to get the cars there by road in time.

An official at the Milan circuit confirmed that there were no Arrows trucks in the paddock and added that the restricted nature of the Monza paddock would make it difficult to accommodate them now with all the others in place.

Arrows have only one named driver, Brazilian Enrique Bernoldi, and have a number of creditors seeking payment including engine supplier Cosworth.

They have pleaded force majeure, or unavoidable circumstances, after missing the Hungarian and Belgium grands prix, saying that they had been advised to do nothing that could jeopardise a sale of the team.