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Caterham F1 staff locked out of Oxfordshire site | Caterham F1 staff locked out of Oxfordshire site |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Staff working at the Caterham F1 team site in Oxfordshire have been locked out of the firm's premises, the administrator has told the BBC. | Staff working at the Caterham F1 team site in Oxfordshire have been locked out of the firm's premises, the administrator has told the BBC. |
Finbarr O'Connell, from Smith & Williamson, said Caterham F1 operator 1MRT had made an "inadequate" offer to continue using the Leafield site. | Finbarr O'Connell, from Smith & Williamson, said Caterham F1 operator 1MRT had made an "inadequate" offer to continue using the Leafield site. |
Smith & Williamson owns the building, where the F1 cars were made. | Smith & Williamson owns the building, where the F1 cars were made. |
Mr O'Connell said he was trying to resolve the situation with 1MRT but until then had locked staff out. | Mr O'Connell said he was trying to resolve the situation with 1MRT but until then had locked staff out. |
Employees from Caterham Sports Limited - which manufactures cars for the F1 team and is run as a separate company - were transferred to 1MRT when the company was placed into administration on Friday. | |
Mr O'Connell said 200 jobs were at risk and up to £20m was owed to external suppliers. | Mr O'Connell said 200 jobs were at risk and up to £20m was owed to external suppliers. |
One employee at the site said: "We've just been given a letter saying we're not allowed in today - it seems to be a very confused situation. | One employee at the site said: "We've just been given a letter saying we're not allowed in today - it seems to be a very confused situation. |
"People are confused and disillusioned by it all. | "People are confused and disillusioned by it all. |
"It's a shame that it's ended so abruptly. It's not looking good - I think it could be the end." | "It's a shame that it's ended so abruptly. It's not looking good - I think it could be the end." |
Race doubt | Race doubt |
Tony Fernandes, who owns the Air Asia airline and Queens Park Rangers football club, sold the team to a Swiss and Middle eastern consortium, Engavest SA, in July. | Tony Fernandes, who owns the Air Asia airline and Queens Park Rangers football club, sold the team to a Swiss and Middle eastern consortium, Engavest SA, in July. |
The consortium has insisted Caterham Sports Ltd is not related to them, as they had transferred operations to the team's holding company, 1MRT. | The consortium has insisted Caterham Sports Ltd is not related to them, as they had transferred operations to the team's holding company, 1MRT. |
Developments at Caterham have brought into question the team's participation in the forthcoming US Grand Prix, which takes place in Austin, Texas, on 2 November, and the race in Brazil the following weekend. | Developments at Caterham have brought into question the team's participation in the forthcoming US Grand Prix, which takes place in Austin, Texas, on 2 November, and the race in Brazil the following weekend. |
In a statement, Caterham F1 said: "The administrators' appointment has had devastating effects on the F1 team's activities." | In a statement, Caterham F1 said: "The administrators' appointment has had devastating effects on the F1 team's activities." |