Arrows to Leave for France on Tuesday Evening

The trucks that will be transporting the cars and equipment of the Arrows team will leave for France on Tuesday evening even though the team are yet to secure a deal to compete at this weekend's French Grand Prix at the Magny-Cours circuit.

Team boss Tom Walkinshaw said on Tuesday that he was still in talks with new investors that could pay around $1.5 million that the Leafield-based squad owe to their engine providers Cosworth. But the Scotsman said the he will need time before a deal is reached.

Arrows shareholders Morgan Grenfell must lift an injunction preventing any additional funding to the team in order for the new investors to save the British outfit, and Walkinshaw said he was hoping that common sense prevails and the team can compete this weekend.

"We have new investors waiting to step in and secure our future, but we still have to come to agreement with existing shareholders", said Walkinshaw. "Negotiations are detailed and complex but we don't intend to give up. We need more time.

"We want to do a deal that will satisfy everyone concerned. We are still in discussions with all parties and are now moving into the time-consuming due diligence process with some of the potential investors.

"I have instructed the team to despatch the cars and transporters to Magny-Cours this evening and we will do all in our power to compete at the weekend. We'll keep on trying and hope that common sense and responsibility prevail."

The deadline for official scrutineering for the French Grand Prix is 1400 GMT on Thursday, and sources have suggested that is it unlikely that Arrows will be given another extension like the one they were given at the British Grand Prix two weeks ago.