Ford to appeal over Rydell disqualification.

Ford have announced that they will appeal against the disqualification of Rickard Rydell from the feature race at Silverstone last Sunday. The Swedish driver was disqualified after his Mondeo's rear wing did not conform to the specified angles of the homologated template.

This is the latest in a series of petty wrangles that have dogged the ailing BTCC this year which has threatened to destroy what is turning out to be an enthralling championship struggle.

Works team Prodrive have suffered more than most this year after a row erupted over the Mondeo's flat bottom and although the car has been declared legal, Ford have changed the flat catch-tanks to keep good spirit. At Oulton Park both Alain Menu and Rydell were disqualified from feature race qualifying after their wheelarches are found to be 3mm out of alignment but now it seems that they cannot take anymore.

In the sprint race, Rydell was given a hefty punt from behind by Honda's Gabriele Tarquini which dislodged the Mondeo's rear bumper. Rydell was called in to have it made safe but there was extensive damage to the rear end of the Mondeo.

"There was so much damage from the [Tarquini] incident, that the car was still being put together as it was wheeled out onto the grid," said Prodrive team Manager Dave Benbow. "The car was legal before the race started but something moved during the race."

As at Oulton Park, the level of performance advantage that Ford will have gained would have been nil. Prodrive admitted that the wing was out of alignment but, as at Oulton, there was very little they could do about it.

No date has been set for the appeal but it is hoped that the case can be reviewed before the next round of the championship at Croft on June 25th. The last thing that the series needs now is dissension between the teams and organisers.