Good news and bad from Arrows this evening

When will it change?
By Huw Alban
September 10 2002

Well, it’s a case of good news/bad news today from Arrows. One of the court case hearings due to take place today has been suspended due to the team making payment, but there is still no word as to whether we are going to Italy - indeed, it looks like we might actually be on our way back home!

The news that a creditor (someone from whom you have bought a service or commodity but have not yet paid) was broken by the Reuters news agency. The company in question was Champion Recruitment Ltd, who are believed to have some connection with ousted Dutch driver Jos Verstappen. Mr John Alderton, a partner at law firm Hammond Suddards representing the firm, has been quoted as saying, “The petitionary creditor has been paid but a lot of others are stacked up behind, wanting to step into their shoes. The court will decide whether to allow that.”

Mr Alderton also indicated it was likely that the remaining hearing against Arrows would probably be adjourned, buying the team valuable time to get their finances in order. This payment is likely to encourage all the team’s other creditors to come forward, but at least Arrows now have some breathing space.

On the subject of the team competing at Monza, Planet-F1.com received a mobile phone text message from a BAR source indicating that the Arrows trucks, on their way to Italy, had turned back from Calais. It would appear that a BAR trucky has a mate in the Leafield team, and received a phone call to this effect. It could just be that the Arrows trucks have actually been advised to stop over in Calais whilst today’s court hearing takes place, but there has been no official word from the team as yet.

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