Exclusive: Arrows Staff Made Redundant

The future of the struggling Arrows Grand Prix team was plunged into further doubt today when sources at the team confirmed the staff have been made redundant.

The team was thrown out of the championship at the start of the week but vowed to fight the governing body, the FIA, for its place on the grid as they brokered a takeover by German businessman Oliver Behring.

But the team sent out letters to members of staff on Wednesday confirming they would no longer be required and reports have suggested the deal is set to collapse after the team lost the right to race.

An employee who received one of the letters admitted it was an inevitable end and said: "The deal was all signed at the end of October but the money never arrived. It looks like it's all over now. We have all received the letters."

The staff were told at the start of September to no longer go to work when an American bid fell through at the Belgian Grand Prix and the team failed to attend the remaining four races of the season as the factory lay dormant.

The team are thought not to have been paid for four months and one former staff member said: "I think they probably have to do this for their benefit but it helps us too because now we can actively seek employment."

One leading member of the team insisted that, despite the problems, team boss Tom Walkinshaw is still in negotiations to secure the deal even though the factory and much of the assets are owned by Walkinshaw's TWR company and there appears to be little to sell.

Without an entry into the 2003 championship the team now seems worthless, but one insider insisted: "Tom being Tom he will probably pull something out the bag."