4^th May, 2002

Fuel cell row to reduce field

A full-blown legal wrangle has flared between Formula-3 and Australian motor sport’s governing body CAMS (the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport).

At the heart of the dispute is CAMS’ insistence that fuel cells used in 1996/97 cars be tested by their manufacturers in Europe.

Negotiations with CAMS broke down early this week, putting at risk the nine cars entered for the third round of the Australian Formula 3 Championship to be held at Oran Park this weekend 3 – 5 May.

The nine vehicles are all 1996/1997 cars, which threatens to devastate the grid for Round 3.

The board of Formula-3 Australia (F3A) is preparing an injunction against CAMS, in a last minute attempt to resolve what it describes as “six months of bureaucratic bungling by CAMS officials”.

F3A chairman, Fred Douglas, explained today that CAMS is forcing F3A to send all 1996/97 fuel cells to Europe for testing, despite local testing facilities in Queensland exceeding FIA standards and equalling the testing required by CAMS for other major categories, including the V8 Supercars.

Mr Douglas said CAMS initially gave F3A until the end of June to find a solution, but on the 24th April advised that fuel cells from all nine cars must be tested before the Oran Park meeting on May 4-5.

“CAMS insisted that this testing be done by the European manufacturer, at huge expense and with impossible deadlines,” said Mr Douglas.

“All nine cars have had their fuel cells tested in the last fortnight by Australian Fuel Cells in Queensland – CAMS regards this as good enough for other categories but not F3A. They have now refused to allow these nine cars to join the grid at Oran Park this weekend.”

He said F3A was calling on CAMS to modify F3A regulations to match other Australian categories, and in the interim to honour the commitment to extend this process to the end of June.

“This is not a safety issue. Formula 3 meets, and exceeds, the fuel cell safety standard,” said Mr Douglas.

”It’s unjust, and quite ridiculous. All we ask is that common sense prevails in the best interests of motorsport.”

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