|
 The British-based team, who have missed the last two races, still
had to raise nearly a million pounds through a crowdfunding website
with 13 hours remaining.
However administrator Finbarr O'Connell, representing Smith &
Williamson, told Reuters he expected the team would be going to Abu
Dhabi anyway.
"I am 90 percent confident that we are going," he said, adding that
the team's cars and parts were being packed into transport
containers and loaded onto trucks at the Leafield factory.
The freight is due to be flown out of Britain to Abu Dhabi's Yas
Marina circuit at the weekend.
"In the last few days three interested buyers have come forward,"
said O'Connell. "They are people with F1 connections who are
seriously interested and who if any of them bought it (the team),
the world would say 'that makes sense'."
 He said talks with a number of drivers, some with Formula One
experience and others in need of a superlicence, were also advanced.
He declined to divulge any names.
SOME DEALS
Caterham, who have never scored so much as a point in five seasons,
went into administration last month after being overwhelmed by
debts.
The previous management, who took over from Malaysian aviation
entrepreneur Tony Fernandes in July, have departed with O'Connell
now the acting principal pending any sale.
[to top of second column] |
He expected some deals to be completed on Friday, which would give
administrators "the comfort we need to be 80 percent of the way
there.
"If some of those things happen, we expect to be announcing we are
going," he added.
"If we are still a few hundred thousand pounds short, we will
recalibrate up to race day to raise the rest."
Formula One has had just nine teams at the last two races after
Marussia, who also went into administration last month, ceased
trading.
The sport's commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone gave Marussia and
Caterham a dispensation to miss the U.S. and Brazilian rounds but
has said they must compete in Abu Dhabi to stay in the championship.
The Briton has spoken out against Caterham's fundraising, saying it
is bad for the sport for teams to go around with 'begging bowls'.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Ken Ferris)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
