Stoddart Renews Threat Against Traction Control

Minardi team owner Paul Stoddart has renewed his threats to withdraw his vote in favour of maintaining traction control, stating the engine manufacturers in Formula One have not lived up to promises made in return for keeping traction control.

The sport's governing body, the FIA, had planned to ban all form of electronic driver aids as of the British Grand Prix last year. However, following a meeting with all teams at the end of April 2003, the FIA announced it would ban only launch control and fully automatic gearbox, allowing the teams to keep running traction control.

The FIA, however, stated on May 2nd 2003 that traction control would be allowed "indefinitely" provided the engine manufacturers supply the independent teams low cost engines that would be priced at $10 million.

"The teams were able to demonstrate that the elimination of traction control would involve very significant additional costs for all teams and engine manufacturers," the FIA statement said.

"The FIA agreed [to keep traction control] on the clear understanding that this would enable the engine manufacturers to supply the independent teams with engines at a fully affordable cost having regard to the current business climate. The FIA agreed that, provided engines are supplied on this basis, these arrangements will remain in place indefinitely."

However, only Mercedes said last year that they were willing to supply engines for $10 million a year, and none of the other engine manufacturers - Ferrari, BMW, Renault, Toyota and Ford-Cosworth - followed suit, saying they would not be ready with such an offer for 2004.

Now Stoddart, whose team has been struggling to survive - along with Jordan - says he is planning to withdraw his support of keeping traction control. And, without a unanimous agreement of all teams, traction control would be banned.

"A solid commitment by the manufacturers was made on April 29 to cut engine costs in return for myself and Jordan agreeing the continued use of traction control," Stoddart told The Sun. "But so far nothing has happened. Unless something is forthcoming, and the promises made honoured, I will withdraw my vote on traction control. That will cause them major problems."

Stoddart further stated that "McLaren chief Ron Dennis told me it would cost the big teams tens of millions of dollars in design and development if traction control was withdrawn. I voted it through in the belief that manufacturers would help us cut engine bill costs. But they appear to have had a memory loss â€" and that's not the way to do business.

"I don't want any more shit and controversy in the sport but they aren't playing fair. This isn't me whingeing or about our survival. We have our finances in place but, if we have to continue paying an extortionate amount for the engines, there's no money left to develop our cars."

Stoddart is scheduled to appear in the FIA's Friday press conference at Melbourne, Australia next week, alongside Renault's Flavio Briatore, Eddie Jordan, Peter Sauber and BAR's David Richards.