BAR to Counter-Sue PPGI

The BAR Formula One team will counter-sue Monaco production company PPGI after the firm's legal claim forced the Brackley-based outfit to miss first practice for the French Grand Prix.

PPGI claimed the BAR owe them a $3 million commission for negotiating sponsoring rights with Teleglobe five years ago.

Team principal David Richards said today that an emergency court hearing in the central town of Nevers had freed their cars locked up on yesterday, when police and bailiffs turned up at the Magny-Cours track.

BAR said PPGI had written assurance that the company would not seek legal intervention before the end of June. However, PPGI breached the agreement and BAR will counter-sue as a consequence.

"Further to proceedings at the time of the Monaco Grand Prix, the team's lawyers had been in discussion with those of PPGI, with the clear objective of reaching a mutual agreement," said BAR in a statement. "In order to facilitate this process, PPGI provided written assurance to the team that they would not seek any further legal intervention prior to 30 June.

"The timing of the court's orders on 23 and 25 June is clearly in breach of this agreement, which was in good faith, and the subsequent material damage which has been inflicted upon the team this weekend will necessitate a counter-claim by the team on PPGI. In addition the judge ordered PPGI to pay a proportion of BAR's legal costs."