F1: Spyker launch arbitration proceedings

[Plex]

The Spyker team have begun their arbitration proceedings against Super Aguri and Toro Rosso over the use of customer cars in Formula One, autosport.com can reveal.

Just days after the Silverstone-based outfit vowed to take the matter to court as the customer car row nearly overshadowed on-track events at the Australian Grand Prix, sources have confirmed that the team have wasted little time in kicking off legal proceedings.

It is understood that both Super Aguri and Toro Rosso will now be issued with court papers within the next few days to notify them officially that the action is underway.

Spyker believe that both teams are breaking Formula One's rules because they have not designed and manufactured their own cars according to the wording of the Concorde Agreement.

Spyker believe that only teams that build their own cars should be eligible for constructors' championship points.

Super Aguri are running a development version of the Honda RA106, while Toro Rosso are racing a modified Red Bull Racing RB3. Both teams insist, however, that they fully comply with the regulations.

The matter will be overseen by the Chamber of Commerce in Lausanne, which rules on all disputes involving the Concorde Agreement.

Spyker originally protested Super Aguri after qualifying in Melbourne, but the race stewards ruled that they could not judge on the customer car issue because it was a Concorde Agreement matter.

Team boss Colin Kolles made it clear at the weekend that he was adamant that only constructors should be eligible for points in F1.

"We have a constructors' championship, and I repeat that: a constructors' championship," he told reporters. "So you have this defined in the Concorde Agreement. It is in singular and you must manufacture your car. This qualifies you to be a constructor."

Super Aguri's managing director Daniel Audetto told autosport.com at the Australian Grand Prix that if any rivals were unhappy about his team then they should take action to sort it out.

"We know what we did, we know what we are doing and we know that we are completely legal, so it is not our problem," he said. "They can do whatever they want. We cannot stop them to do it. They just do it.

"If they have something to complain about then they can just do it. Then we will see if they are right or they are wrong. But we are right."

Autosport