BAR cars impounded!!!

All taken from www.pitpass.com

News on the matter (http://www.pitpass.com/news2/news.cfm?newsid=6629)

Richards' comment (http://www.pitpass.com/news2/news.cfm?newsid=6631)

And 2 pics:

http://www.pitpass.com/images/gallery/france03/buildup/barsimpounded6fra03b.jpg

http://www.pitpass.com/images/gallery/france03/buildup/barsimpounded2fra03b.jpg

Very interesting!!!

Humor me, what exactly was the agreement about that started this chain of events?

I have no idea, Ray! There was some talk of this before Monaco, but as nothing happened, I didn't pay any particular attention to it.

Originally posted by ales
I have no idea, Ray! There was some talk of this before Monaco, but as nothing happened, I didn't pay any particular attention to it.

Yeah, I just wondered if I was missing something....

Thanks Alex.

From f1-live.com a statement issued by BAR this evening. Sums it up pretty much.


PGI today secured a court order to seize assets of the BAR team based upon their claim that a verbal contract was agreed in 1998 between themselves and BAR’s previous team principal Craig Pollock.

BAR was only made aware of this matter earlier this year when PPGI invoiced the team for commission it claims dates back more than five years ago.

This matter is being handled in the normal process through the Monaco courts but, due to the summer recess, will not be heard until 15 October. It was therefore surprising that PPGI should seek a seizure order on assets of the team when the due process and timescale have already been established by the Monaco courts.

The seizure order has resulted in the cars being impounded overnight, albeit remaining within the Paddock. Tomorrow morning, at 0900 CET in the Nevers court, BAR will seek to have the order overturned.


I never liked this Pollock guy. I wonder why JV had/has such a stong believe in this guy... :confused:

xcBar statement (http://www.pitpass.com/news2/news.cfm?newsid=6632)

wow, i wonder what JV has to say about this:bloated:

So what implications will this have on the BAR racing schedule??

Originally posted by /\/imbus
So what implications will this have on the BAR racing schedule??

You know as much as we do bud, we will have to see what happens at 9:00am tomorrow to find out the short term implications and until the court hearing in Oct to find out the lond term implications.

In the meantime we rely on heresay.....

they got the court order just before the monaco GP. i dont know why they didnt take the cars there and then though

The dispute first came to a head at the Monaco grand prix. A judge forestalled an attempt to impound the cars and the BAR transporters were permitted to leave the principality.

To throw out a silly question....

Even if they impound the cars at one race, what's to stop BAR arriving at the next race with 2 new cars and another spare (aside from the obvious financial question)

I am surprised Bernie or somebody else hasn't stepped into the fray:bloated:

I guess the cars were impounded because one party owes the other money. So i suppose bringing two new cars would result in the same outcome, they'd be repo'd too :confused:

BAR press release (http://www.pitpass.com/news2/news.cfm?newsid=6639)

Further to the seizure of BAR assets at the Magny-Cours circuit yesterday, the team is pleased to confirm that the court order obtained by PPGI was successfully overturned in court in Nevers, France this morning, the judge agreeing with BAR's submission that the original seizure order was invalid because he had no jurisdiction in this matter.
BAR's cars and equipment, which were sealed in its two transporters overnight pending the outcome of this morning's hearing, have now been released unconditionally and the team will recommence its preparation for Sunday's French Grand Prix.

Lawyers representing the team were in court at Nevers at 0900CET in front of the same judge, Monsieur Girard, who had granted the original seizure order. The case for the team was presented within 15 minutes of the start of the hearing but the judge informed the court that he was not in a position to make a decision until 1130CET. The result of his action was that Jacques Villeneuve and Jenson Button were unable to take part in this morning's free practice session, however both drivers will be participating in this afternoon's first qualifying session.

In a procedural error, the case was heard by a commercial court rather than a civil court, and presided over by Monsieur Girard, who is a lay justice of the peace rather than a professional judge. In addition, at the first hearing on 18 June, the court was only presented with the case for PPGI, and therefore the judge was not fully aware of all of the facts. The team was confident that, once the court was made aware of the full situation this morning, the original order would be overturned. Further to proceedings at the time of the Monaco Grand Prix, the team's lawyers had been in discussion with those of PPGI, with the clear objective of reaching a mutual agreement. In order to facilitate this process, PPGI provided written assurance to the team that they would not seek any further legal intervention prior to 30 June. The timing of the court's orders on 23 and 25 June is clearly in breach of this agreement, which was in good faith, and the subsequent material damage which has been inflicted upon the team this weekend will necessitate a counter-claim by the team on PPGI.

In addition the judge ordered PPGI to pay a proportion of BAR's legal costs.


and some more on the matter (http://www.pitpass.com/news2/news.cfm?newsid=6636)

Originally posted by crayzayjay
I guess the cars were impounded because one party owes the other money. So i suppose bringing two new cars would result in the same outcome, they'd be repo'd too :confused:

I know what you're saying Jay, but if that were the case, why don't they just get a court order giving them a right to march into BAR's HQ and take whatever is required to offset the supposed amount owed.

In hindsight, the fact that they could impound 2 F1 cars and then some in the effort to recoup whatever amount of money is involved, you have to wonder how much money really is involved.

Whatever the outcome, this is a great publicity stunt on the part of PPGI.

so far, so good. BAR is racing. Richards now has pressed charges against PPGI for not be able to test etc.

to be continued...

Originally posted by huudo
Richards now has pressed charges against PPGI for not be able to test etc.

to be continued...

Sounds reasonable....a case of "two can play that game"