BAR Facing Cars Impoundment

A court order has been granted that could see BAR-Honda's cars for Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix seized, the Brackley-based outfit said today.

France Corbeil, of a company named S.A.M. Partnership Production Group International, has been granted the right to impound BAR's cars because of a debt dating back five years.

BAR's current management team were made aware of the situation earlier this year when a demand for commission on a deal with former sponsors Teleglobe was forwarded to them, but the court order is only in a "private capacity".

It does not involve the assistance of the police or the court themselves and BAR are confident Corbeil will not be able to seize the cars. They have not been able to respond to the action, which was granted on Wednesday, because the courts were closed.

BAR said the claims were "baseless" and added in a statement: "BAR is confident that when it has the opportunity to present the situation to the courts on Monday morning the seizure order will be lifted immediately."

They said that the claims were initially rejected by the Monaco courts "several weeks ago" before being re-presented with new evidence on Wednesday. They are seeking legal advice and could take action against Corbeil for defamation or commercial slander.