Minardi Withdraw Support for Rule Changes

Minardi have withdrawn their support for the proposed future changes to the Formula One rules because of the collapse of the 'Fighting Fund', team principal Paul Stoddart said today.

The back-of-the-grid team are once again struggling financially but had been promised at the start of the season that a 'Fighting Fund' would be provided by the manufacturer-backed teams to ease cashflow.

But the manufacturers have said they are unable to provide the funding to help privateer teams Minardi, Jordan and Sauber and also warned they will not meet FIA demands to make engines available for $10 million a season.

"I was perhaps too eager to please people who, it seems, have actually been working to try to make it difficult for Minardi to continue," said Stoddart. "On reading the proposed changes in detail, and taking into consideration the cost implications for Minardi, I had no choice but to withdraw my consent."

Widespread changes were introduced to the sport by the FIA at the start of the season in a bid to reduce costs and improve the entertainment.

Changes to the race weekends included the addition of a private testing session on Fridays as well as requirement in 2004 for one engine per car per race and a proposed ban on expensive traction control. But the FIA have proposed to allow continued use of traction control providing manufacturers can supply "affordable" engines to the private teams.

The five manufacturers who have formed the Grand Prix World Championship (GPWC) - Renault, Ferrari, Ford, DaimlerChrysler and BMW - insist that they cannot afford to produce engines for the expected $10 million (USD).

But Stoddart wants them to honour the 'Fighting Fund' which was created at a meeting on January 15 this year and also honour their commitment on the engines. In a statement, the team said Minardi "might reconsider its position" if there is "significant and helpful movement" on the points Stoddart is arguing otherwise the proposed changes will not be voted through.

The teams were due to vote on the changes last Friday but Stoddart added: "I was forced to reconsider my consent to the Formula One Commission vote on the 2004 regulations and the proposed changes to the 2003 regulations."