By Huw Alban
June 9 2002

According to rpm.espm.com the rumours that McLaren are eyeing Arrows Technical whizz Mike Coughlan are true. The site has published a quote from McLaren team boss Ron Dennis, reportedly said at some point during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend. “There is dialogue between the team and Mike,” Dennis was quoted as saying by the Reuters news agency. “But Mike’s ability to join any grand prix team is very much to do with his contractual position with his current team.

“Until he’s in a position to move then I presume he is going to stay where he is.

“We always respect a contractual relationship but I think there’s clearly a difference in opinion between him and his current employers. Until that’s resolved it is not possible to consider that a serious option.”

rpm.espm.com also reported that Mike Coughlan was not present with the team during the Canadian Grand Prix. According to the site a spokeswoman for the team has told them that Coughlan is on two weeks holiday, a tactic that the site says is often used by teams to protect technical secrets once a team member expresses a desire to move on. Don’t take this too seriously, though - the Arrows spokeswoman told the site that Coughlan would also be returning to the team after his two week break.