Possible protest over "customer cars" could spoil 1st race

**Dave B** · 15th March 2007, 13:38

It seems that just while we're all getting excited about the new season, a couple of teams are considering protesting the legality of so-called "customer cars" from Super Aguri and Torro Rosso.

I thought all of this had been sorted?

Story here: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/57329

The Autosport report is naming Spyker and Williams as the compainants, which would make sense as they're probably the teams with most to fear from midfield competition.

Seems they want a compromise: TR and SA wouldn't be able to score points, or would lose TV revenue.

Grrrrr... just when you thought it was all about the racing.

**Shifter** · 15th March 2007, 13:55

I was at Indy '05 doesn't surpise me in the least. I want to respect Williams so much but I just can't when he pulls stuff like this. As for the Spykers well they're invited to join the party whenever they stop being poopy-heads.

Anyone have inside info on other teams that might be part of the protest?

**555-04Q2** · 15th March 2007, 14:40

Blame Michael Schumacher

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**truefan72** · 15th March 2007, 14:47

its so misguided at this point. Just concentrate on driving and leave out this futile and foolhardy fight.

**seppefan** · 15th March 2007, 14:47

Blame the FIA for not sorting it. Typical Max M saying that the teams have to protest to the race stewards to avoid the problem. Both Williams and Spyker have to challenge this after developing their own cars. Berger and Aguri both knew they were outside the rule book or they would not have changed the ownership of the design rights. That in itself is an admission of guilt. Also both teams have know all along that they woiuld be protested and I would expect Toyota, Mclaren and maybe BMW to show support.

**Heidfeldrulez** · 15th March 2007, 20:26

i can totaly understand where Kolles is coming from tho, his team spent an aweful lot of enegery (phisycal and mental) , time and money to create a new car and even skip 3 whole months of testing in the process, then other privaters get home delivery of "their" chasses.

in a sense Kolles' team starts the priveteer's race being about 1 lap down and thats unfair in my book.

Im not particulary againts costumer cars, but either every team should be able to use'em or none. I will be honestly disappointed with another "yes v10 is ok till i think its not" sort of Mosley desicion, but thats what we can expect eventually cant we

**PSfan** · 15th March 2007, 23:11

They should have all seen this coming last year when the Red Bull team exposed the loophole allowing STR to use the Jaguars. I have little sympathy for them now after they did little about it last year.

Guess the bright side is that at least I can't blame Paul Stoddart on the controversy going into the Aussie gp...

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**Garry Walker** · 15th March 2007, 23:15

Originally Posted by Shifter

I was at Indy '05 doesn't surpise me in the least. I want to respect Williams so much but I just can't when he pulls stuff like this. As for the Spykers well they're invited to join the party whenever they stop being poopy-heads.

What on earth has Williams done wrong? In my view they are totally in the right to protest, its them who are getting screwed by cheating by Honda and Redbull.

for all i care, toro rosso and super aguri could be DSQ, i dont care the slightest about those 2 teams, they are irrelevant.

**Shifter** · 16th March 2007, 02:00

It can get sorted out in due time. This 'protesting the race' move, while possibly effective as a means to an end, only serves to hurt the race day experience in the eyes of the fans who paid money and moreover, made an emotional investment in being at a Grand Prix event. So the teams should just race on raceday. I think their arguement is a good one. Thing is, don't look to me to vouch support of it when they're pulling their cars out of a race and making the event less than what it could be.

Of course I wouldn't even care if it was 20 years ago because there were twice as many teams...

**truefan72** · 16th March 2007, 08:36

hmm now that I've seen the first practice my thoughts are all over the place. First Super aguri seem awfully fast and probably even better than Honda at this point while Torro Rossi seem really bad much worse than last year ( with Luizzi stinking up the joint..and they kept him?) so there is a case and there isn't one at the same time.

Garry Walker

I Guess Super Aguri isn't irrelevant now is it?

I say, the competitiveness of all the teams is good for F1. Just race and see where the chips fall IMO