05/03/2005
NEWS STORY
As predicted by Pitpass, the FIA has threatened drastic measures in light of the decision by the Victoria Supreme Court to allow Paul Stoddart to enter his cars in the Australian Grand Prix - thereby overriding the sport's governing body.
Pitpass compared the move - whereby Stoddart appealed to the Supreme Court to give him special dispensation to take part in the event - to an athlete entering the 100 metres at next year's Commonwealth Games (in Melbourne) and asking to be allowed to run just 80 metres, and upon being refused, heading to the law courts.
Sensing that this could set a dangerous precedent, the FIA has hit back, threatening to withdraw sanctioned events from Australia.
In a statement issued following Friday's dramatic events, the FIA said:
"If Australian laws and procedures do indeed allow a judge to act in this way, it will be for the World Motor Sport Council to decide if a world championship motor sport event of any kind can ever again be held in Australia.
"Apparently the judge thought it right to interfere with the running of a major sporting event, overrule the duly appointed international officials and compel the governing body to allow cars to participate in breach of the international regulations, all this without first hearing both sides of the case."
It is highly unlikely that the FIA would take such drastic action, but this should clearly be seen as a warning shot across the bows.