- Caterham
Caterham insists bailiffs' visit was 'no big drama'
Caterham has stressed that the arrival of bailiffs at its factory was "no big drama" and was not a result of the current owners of the Formula One team having unpaid bills.
On Tuesday a group of bailiffs known as The Sheriff's Office visited Caterham's base in Leafield and claimed to have removed a list of items set for auction. The list included parts "due for Japan 2014" but Caterham boss Manfredi Ravetto denied the team was missing any vital parts for this weekend's race.
Instead Ravetto said the items were merely memorabilia belonging to the team, but that the issue is a matter relating to "totally different companies" and not the F1 team.
"No big drama, to be honest," Ravetto said. "It is absolutely true that bailiffs have been to Leafield, but what is also true is that the day before yesterday since they were in Leafield [Wednesday] not a single screwdriver has been removed for the very simple reason that our solicitors got all the paperwork done in order to prove that it is a matter of totally different companies.
"Leafield technical centre is hosting a number of different companies, for example I keep meeting Mike Gascoyne every morning because he is chief technical officer of Carterham Composites and there is also Caterham Group and some other companies, including the Formula One team, but the Formula One team has nothing to do with these other companies.
"Substantially we managed to explain to the bailiffs that we have nothing to do with the claims. Our opposition was successful and therefore, contrary to rumours that have been spread around, no server was switched off and no additional parts or equipment has been removed. I say additional to what was previously removed, but the things that were previously removed were just memorabilia not belonging to the Formula One team. I told you what happened, but also some other things happened that I would like to highlight. We keep paying our wages, we keep our employees happy and we keep our suppliers happy."
Pushed on what had been taken by the bailiffs, Ravetto added: "There was a bailiff who removed certain stuff, but this was more memorabilia than actual critical parts. The car parts for the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix, you can see them over there [in the garage].
"I know that some carbon components have been seized. These carbon components are still considered by me to be memorabilia, maybe someone could argue on this, but it was not parts we were going to put on the car here in Japan, this year or whatsoever. I still believe the questions about the list will soon become obsolete. In my view they are already obsolete."
The owners of the team do not want to be named, which has led to scepticism in the media amid suggestions the team might not make it to next year. Ravetto said he was not fussed about the perception others have of the team.
"Do I sound rude when I say I don't care? Scepticism or none scepticism doesn't pay our bills. I prefer to be concentrated on doing my job, on running the team and on finding the income that allows me to do this. Together with my colleagues, let me say we are successful in managing in doing so. I can also tell you that the level of debt of this company is by far lower than some other Formula One teams.
"This is something we are proud of, that allows us to keep having things under control and to fight for our priorities, which is to keep the team running, keep the employees happy and paid - which was not always the case - and to keep suppliers happy and supplying what we need to go racing. That's it. If somebody is sceptical I can accept and have no problem with that."
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