22/08/2005
NEWS STORY
In successive years, Renault, BAR and now McLaren have made full use of the third car, whereby teams that finish outside the top four in the previous year's Constructors' Championship are allowed to run a third car during the free practice sessions on Grand Prix Fridays.
In 2003 and 2004, respectively, Renault and BAR used the third car rule to great effect.
Ironically, one man who was very much against the third car rule is Ron Dennis, who having proposed all manner of clauses that would limit driver choice, referred to the third cars as 'track cleaners'. When Fernando Alonso won the 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix, team boss Flavio Briatore dedicated the win to "the housewives of the world".
Ironically, having been so vociferous against the third car rule, in 2005 Ron Dennis' team has clearly benefited from it this season.
Talking to reporters in Istanbul at the weekend the Englishman told reporters that it was unlikely that the rule would be scrapped for 2006, revealing that there are no plans to change the rule.
Based on current Constructors' Championship standings, WilliamsF1 and BAR look likely to be making use of the rule next season.