Manufacturers vote for breakaway series

The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) is concerned that German media giants Kirch and EMTV, which have got the green light to buy 75 percent of the commercial and television rights to F1, will make all Formula 1 TV coverage pay-per-view. As such ACEA has voted unanimously in favour of withdrawing from F1 to start up its own series.

Some Formula 1 insiders believe the ACEA's decision is a symbolic gesture designed to force guarantees from Kirch and EMTV that Formula 1 will remain on terrestrial TV. The association's chairman Paulo Canterella was in fighting mood after the meeting.

The ACEA and Fiat chairman said: "As a result of recent developments,and in the best interests of motor sport, it has been unanimously agreed to set up a joint company, the purpose of which will be to establish, as soon as possible, a new open-wheels single-seat racing car series."

Should the breakaway championship go ahead, it would signal the end of F1 involvement for Ferrari (Fiat), Mercedes, BMW, Renault and Ford, and would leave the future of the teams which are currently supplied engines by the manufacturers in serious doubt.

The situation is further complicated by the manufacturers owning shares within the teams to which they supply engines, giving ACEA an amount of leverage from the inside.

The idea of a breakaway championship was first raised earlier this year, but following investigations by the German monopolies commission it was believed that the manufacturers' unease at the Kirch/EMTV majority had been significantly reduced, making today's decision something of a surprise.

The stance of motorsport's governing body, the FIA is that it would consider sanctioning any alternative series as long as it met its existing criteria on such matters as safety.