Prodrive support appeal court move

Following a letter from rival team Williams questioning the legality of customer teams in F1, FIA president Max Mosley has called an International Court of Appeal hearing in London on October 24 to rule on the matter. A decision is due the following day.

In a statement issued by Prodrive on Friday evening, team boss David Richards said the hearing would be good in confirming his team's position and ending uncertainty that has been spread by rival outfits.

"We are in no doubt that the sporting regulations for the 2008 Formula One Championship clearly allow the use of customer cars, which is why our entire F1 proposition has been based on this fact since the outset," he said.

"However, uncertainty spread by others, for their own interests, is not only harming the development of our F1 programme, but is putting in jeopardy those of other teams already committed to a customer car programme next year.

"Over the last 18 months we have committed a substantial amount of time, money and effort into developing our F1 plans. We are now at the point where everything is in place, however the fact that some parties continue to perpetuate the myth that there is uncertainty, in respect of the rules, is having a detrimental impact on the plans for our new team.

"We therefore welcome the FIA's decision to refer the matter to the ICA, as this position needs to be clarified as soon as possible. It is not only damaging to us but to the sport in general."

Prodrive are understood to have agreed in principle a deal with McLaren for a supply of customer cars for next year, but it hinges on confirmation that customer cars are allowed under F1's ruling document, the Concorde Agreement - something that will be clarified at the Appeal Court.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis said in Shanghai on Friday: "We have not entered into any contract with any team at this moment of time and if a team wishes to enter the 2008 World Championship and that team does not have complete clarity as to whether it is or is not permitted to enter, then it is a matter for that team and certainly not for McLaren."