At 11.33am UK BST this morning (CET-1), BAR Honda received a faxed communication from the Secretary General of the FIA (Sport) confirming that the FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile) is to lodge an appeal against decision number 49 of the Stewards following yesterday's San Marino Grand Prix in Imola.

In accordance with standard procedure, the FIA scrutineers all cars which have completed the race, which involves weighing and measuring the car, as well as performing random checks. During scrutineering of the BAR Honda 007-04 race car (entry number car 3) driven by Jenson Button, the FIA requested that the car be measured and weighed to ensure its compliance with the FIA Technical Regulations. The car was found to be compliant with all the regulations, including being above the weight limit.

Thereafter, the FIA decided to perform a further check and requested that the team drain the fuel tank and then siphon out all the residual fuel remaining in the system. Once this had been completed, they determined that the car was below the required minimum weight.

The FIA invited BAR Honda to explain their position and the team was able to demonstrate, using its own data and data gathered by the investigating stewards, that the car was above minimum weight at all times during the race.

Late last night, at the Imola circuit, the stewards confirmed that they were satisfied with the factual data supplied by the team. This confirmation was presented to the BAR Honda team by the stewards in the form of a signed document entitled decision number 49.

BAR Honda is therefore surprised that the FIA has decided to appeal against decision number 49, which was taken by FIA-appointed stewards.

The FIA has requested an appeal hearing at the FIA International Court of Appeal in Paris on Wednesday 4 May 2005. The team will of course co-operate fully with this request.

BAR Honda Chief Executive Nick Fry said "BAR Honda will provide the same rigorous data presented to the stewards last night and is confident that it can prove once again that the car was fully compliant with the FIA Technical Regulations throughout the San Marino Grand Prix."