We’re in the clear on crash tests, says BAR

FIA president Max Mosley told journalists earlier this week that a number of teams had failed one or more of the tests specified by the sport's governing body. Wednesday's Sun newspaper said that Benetton and BAR were among those who failed, but Benetton issued a denial yesterday, with BAR joining it today.

The side-impact and roll-over bar tests have been significantly increased in severity for 2001 and Mosley said that a number of teams, which he declined to name, had sacrificed safety in the pursuit of weight reduction. He added that unless teams had successfully passed the tests before the Australian GP, they would not be allowed to take part.

BAR said in its statement that it passed the last of the FIA's structural tests on February 20, with technical director Malcolm Oastler adding: "This has been a significant challenge for the team, which they have risen to admirably, and we look forward to starting the season in Australia with cars which fully realise the FIA's outstanding safety objectives."

The majority of the 11 F1 teams' race cars, spare cars and equipment are scheduled to be loaded onto chartered Boeing 747s at Stansted tomorrow.