- Caterham
Caterham allowed to run 2014 car in 2015
Caterham will be allowed to run this year's car in 2015 if it can find a buyer ahead of the new season.
The Leafield team, which returned from a two-race absence to compete at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, remains in administration. Running an old chassis next season would reduce pressure on new buyers to build a new car with the start of pre-season testing just two months away and should be ratified at Wednesday's meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Qatar.
Finbarr O'Connell, joint administrator for the team, said of the old chassis allowance: "That is of interest to all the parties I'm talking to. It gives them a choice, an easier start to get into F1. The F1 Commission and FIA agreed if it would assist the weaker teams they can use the 2014 car next year, so giving them more time and options. It's a very difficult purchase decision for any party because of the huge costs involved in running an F1 team."
Caterham went into administration in October and last month made 230 staff redundant. O'Connell says there are still several parties interested in purchasing the team ahead of the new season.
"[Finding a buyer] before Christmas would still be ideal. It now doesn't have to happen by then, but the earlier the better from my point of view, and I'm encouraging people as much as I can. It's a very difficult purchase decision for any party because of the huge costs involved in running a F1 team. I'm still talking to a few interested parties, and I'm hoping one of them can do the deal.
"The number of people I'm talking to has increased, with two very strong candidates, and a third less strong. All I can do is show what I have, show the team, the assets and the facilities, and facilitate in any way I can with them making a decision. I remain confident something will be done."
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