(Frederic Le Floch DPPI for Renault Sport F1)
It has been an incredible couple of weeks for the Caterham F1 Team in both a good and very bad way. Last month it was announced that the Leafield based outfit had entered administration along with fellow small team Marussia. The High Court in London appointed London based Smith and Williamson as the administrator.
The administrator installed Finbarr O'Connell to oversee the Leafield team. The team missed both the United States and Brazilian Grand Prix however Mr O'Connell announced that he intended to get the team to the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
It was decided that the team would attempt to come up with the £2.35 million needed for them to get to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix by using crowd funding to help raise the money. Although the project received criticism from within the Formula One paddock as of Thursday evening they had £1,942,571 pledged for the project which is 82% of the finding needed.
The team arrived in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday with Formula One Supremo Bernie Ecclestone revealing that he had waived the transportation cost for the Leafield based team and had charted a plane to enable the 40 staff members attending the race to get to the circuit.
Mr O'Connell revealed that the team are taking part in the race in order to receive their participation fee. This would also ensure that they can compete next season if a suitable buyer can be found for the team.
Mr O'Connell will meet with a number of interested parties looking to buy the team over the course of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
A number of concerns had been raised over the safety of the team's cars however these concerns were completely unfounded as the team passed scrutineering on Thursday,
It was confirmed on Sunday that Kamui Kobayashi would be returning to the team to drive in the final race. On Thursday afternoon it was also confirmed that English driver Will Stevens will make his F1 debut this weekend having worked extremely hard with the Leafield based outfit
© Ben Johnston 2014
It was decided that the team would attempt to come up with the £2.35 million needed for them to get to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix by using crowd funding to help raise the money. Although the project received criticism from within the Formula One paddock as of Thursday evening they had £1,942,571 pledged for the project which is 82% of the finding needed.
The team arrived in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday with Formula One Supremo Bernie Ecclestone revealing that he had waived the transportation cost for the Leafield based team and had charted a plane to enable the 40 staff members attending the race to get to the circuit.
Mr O'Connell revealed that the team are taking part in the race in order to receive their participation fee. This would also ensure that they can compete next season if a suitable buyer can be found for the team.
Mr O'Connell will meet with a number of interested parties looking to buy the team over the course of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
A number of concerns had been raised over the safety of the team's cars however these concerns were completely unfounded as the team passed scrutineering on Thursday,
It was confirmed on Sunday that Kamui Kobayashi would be returning to the team to drive in the final race. On Thursday afternoon it was also confirmed that English driver Will Stevens will make his F1 debut this weekend having worked extremely hard with the Leafield based outfit
© Ben Johnston 2014
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