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Arrows not at Indy, but maybe Japan?

The end?
By Huw Alban September 21 2002
This site, despite the optimism of the past, is now beginning to resign itself to the fact that we will not see an Arrows car race again this season. There had been hope for an appearance at Indy, but that is looking shaky with all eyes now looking to the last race of the season in Japan.
As ever official news on the Arrows situation is non-existent, but this site has some cunning sources who have been working to try and find out what is going on. Currently the majority of the team’s workforce has been sent home on enforced unpaid leave, but a date of the 20th had been set for the team to come back and start packing for the American race. The 20th has now gone, and the factory is even more empty than it was before.

An Arrows team member spoke to this site on Friday afternoon and confirmed “As far as I know the factory is completely closed. There’s no-one there apart from some management and stuff, as far as I gather. It’s not looking too good at the moment.” The factory situation has been updated on the forum by Mister X, who informs us that, as of now, even the management has been sent home until further notice. All efforts are apparently being focused on securing the team so that it can compete in 2003.

A BAR source informed this site earlier in the week that Cosworth had been into the factory recently and removed all of the engines from the site. In addition this source also believes that the team have no intention of competing in the last two races of the year.

“It’s all hanging in the balance just now I think,” the Arrows team member continued. “Even the people at work there don’t know what’s going on, you know - if it’s going to be sorted out or if it’s all going to go bum up.”

Although the team staff have been sent home on enforced leave, they are apparently free to seek alternative employment which some have already done. This could leave Arrows in severe trouble as efforts continue to secure the team’s grid slots for 2003.

“There’s a few guys that have packed it in already. You know, they’ve given up two months wages and they’re just trying to get other jobs,” the team member added sadly.

“There’s a lot of support out there I think. Whether it all gets through to Tom Walkinshaw or not, you know. We all think it’s not his fault but we think he’s holding up the proceedings.”

When asked about the possibility of the team competing at Indianapolis, this site was told that it was “unlikely,” however there was a slim chance of Arrows making it to Japan. The Arrows staffer refused to be drawn as to why that was likely, but sounded hopeful. With some luck this site might have some more inside information from this source on Monday evening.

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