In an interview with the media this morning, Caterham team principal Manfredi Ravetto has hit out at claims the team managed to hide “critical parts” from bailiffs.
The Caterham team made headlines on Thursday after it was revealed that bailiffs seized equipment from their factory over the past week with The Sheriff’s Office revealing that a 2013 test car, car parts designated for this weekend’s Japanese GP and steering wheels were among the goods.
The team are still planning to race at Suzuka this weekend and Ravetto has played down reports that important parts were seized. In an interview with the media this morning, Ravetto stated the following:-
‘As far as I can see the parts of the 2014 car for the Japanese Grand Prix are next door, you can see them. Obviously this advert is not providing any pictures, any evidence, any more detail for the breakdown of seized assets and I can tell you that this matter is in the hands of our solicitors.
‘There was a bailiff who removed certain stuff but this is more memorabilia than race critical parts. We introduced this morning a new front wing. I [read] that someone is tweeting on social media that we managed to hide it from the bailiffs; this is just bullsh*t, sorry to say this. I also read somewhere that it was sent to Japan with a secret courier; just bullsh*t again.’
As Ravetto says, there have been lots of rumours surrounding the status of the Caterham team and Ravetto is correct with his approach to these questions. They haven’t denied that the bailiffs haven’t been present at the factory in Leafield, the speculation of social media on the matter for me has been uncalled for and the matter is now being settled in the hands of their legal team which is where it needs to be.
There are still four races left after this weekend’s event in Japan, and further in his interview today, Ravetto concedes there are no guarantees they will see out the season. Ravetto added the following:-
‘I agree that I didn’t provide you with a first call bank guarantee that we will be until the end of the season or even next year, but who can do this? I can tell you that I’m very much confident, but on the other side we are also realistic. We know where this team is coming from and therefore we are quite relaxed on this respect.
‘The main guarantee I can give is highlighting once more the importance of defending an entry and of keeping an entry. To keep an entry you need to have two cars on the grid and this is what we’re going to do.’
As Ravetto says, nothing in life has a cast iron guarantee but he is being realistic about the expectations about Caterham being on the grid for next season. And that is the way they have to be at the moment and ensure that they remain on the grid for 2015 and keeping their entry spot.
You could argue that if the team do not keep their entry spot for next season and the worst comes to the worst and they have to sell the team, it would be unpleasing as an potential investor to invest in a team that may have lost their entry to the 2015 season.
But overall, Ravetto has confirmed that the speculation and rumours surrounding the team are uncalled for and it should end now. Caterham haven’t denied the rumours regarding the bailiffs and are working with their legal team to get the matter resolved as quickly as possible. But as for Caterham wanting to be on the grid for 2015, that is without a doubt has to be their intention and I really hope that is the case for the team.
Jones on F1 