Judge set to rule on BAR team

Jacques Villeneuve and Jenson Button are still waiting to hear if they can take part in this weekend’s French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours after the BAR cars were seized last night.

The team are still awaiting the verdict of a French judge this morning.

The verdict had not come through in time for them to start today’s first practice session, which got under way at 10am Irish time.

The team believe they can be ready to take part within 25 minutes once they get the go-ahead to release the cars from the transporters – which were locked overnight.

BAR were forced to go to court after the cars were impounded in a dispute regarding sponsorship money relating to former boss Craig Pollock.

A spokesman said: “The court is in adjournment and we are still awaiting the outcome. At this point in time we will not be starting the session.”

Technical director Geoffrey Willis said the cars have been packed overnight ready to race but it would take time for them to warm up the engines and gearboxes.

He said: “It normally takes us about 40 minutes to get the cars ready but we are hoping to rush our procedures and get it done in 25 minutes.

“It’s a case of heating up the water for the engines for the required temperatures.

“Obviously the engine and gearboxes are designed to operate at temperatures and if we do it when it’s cold then we will break something.”

French policeman and a bailiff – armed with a warrant – raided the BAR pit at Magny-Cours as a dispute over allegedly unpaid debts escalated.

BAR were threatened with a similar fate at the Monaco Grand Prix after France Corbeil, SAM Partnership Production Group International, obtained a court order over money allegedly owed from a commission involving a former team sponsor, Teleglobe.

The dispute stretches back five years – although the current management team were only made aware of it earlier this year when they received the demand for commission.