Arrows entry declined - have your say... response.

The FIA announced last Monday [2 Dec] that they rejected Arrows' entry into the 2003 F1 World Championship for 'reasons, which have been communicated to the team' and we at Crash.net wanted to know what you the reader thought of the decision. Well most of you thought it was a bad choice, as Formula 1 needs as many teams as it can get...

Indeed, in answer to our poll question on the same subject, which asked: "Was the FIA right to decline the Arrows team entry into the 2003 F1 World Championship?" - 63.1 per cent said 'No', disagreeing with the FIA's ruling.

Here is what some of you who replied to our story - "FIA decline Arrows entry - have your say..." had to exclaim, declare, utter...

"We need more competitors in Formula 1 not less. Soon it will be Ferrari, Williams and McLaren, how exciting will that be?"
Mark Roberts (37) - England.

"No, the FIA did not make the right choice, and yes, the Arrows team should have been given a second chance. I was shocked, and also sad, after hearing that the FIA dumped Arrows. Why did they do this when Arrows paid their 2003 entry fee? So what if Arrows goes bankrupt and pulls out during the middle of next year? Lots of other teams have done this in the past (AGS, Simtek, Pacific, etc).

"We have so few teams as it is, one would have thought that, in the interest of the sport, the FIA would do all that they can to keep the F1 teams on the grid. Who will want to watch 16 cars fighting for a top eight scoring position? (Remember 1989 when there were 39 cars fighting for a place on the grid!) While the FIA keeps the money rolling into their pockets, I believe that more teams will fall out of the sport by the end of next year - maybe Minardi, and possibly Jordan.

"I've heard that Arrows will make an appeal. I hope they make it."
Michael J. Meiring (26) - South African.

"Arrows should have a second chance."

Vic harp - Arizona USA.

"I'm not impressed that the FIA declined their entry. If Arrows have raised the ?200,000 needed to secure entry then they should be allowed to start the season. Obviously, if they take the piss like last year then I think it's right they get booted out but they should be given the opportunity to at least start.

"But... I think Arrows should be asked to give some more concrete information as to who their 'investors' are and perhaps a deadline on proving that they will be financially capable to compete for a full season. They do have until March before the first race.

"Overall it's a real shame for F1 to lose another team. Thumbs up to the rule changes too. Can't wait for next season."
Guy Dyke-Price.

"Surely Arrows should be allowed a second chance on the grid next season? I think it is in the interest of everyone to see more cars on the grid at the start of a race. If they have got the money and the team, then give them a chance..."
Colin Betchley (35) - England.

"I think that the FIA should give Arrows a provisional entry into the 2003 F1 season. Make it so that if they miss the first two races they are out for the year. I say this because F1 needs all the help it can get right now and having two more cars on the grid is a big plus (more cars = more excitement).

"The FIA should show as much leniency as possible to any team in any motor sport that is struggling financially. Currently Arrows is trying to get new backing, now that the FIA has denied them entry into the 2003 season how much harder will it be for them to get the backing? It is quite possible that their backing will fall completely away and the Arrows team evaporates completely.

"Also on the money side of things, if Arrows can compete it will bring more fans and more money to the F1 machine, neither of which would hurt the FIA or F1."
Brett VanDyke (34) - USA.

"In my opinion Arrows is suffering from 'the modern Formula 1 syndrome', which means that all the teams must have a big car manufacturer, such as BMW or Ford backing them. The question is: If Tom Walkinshaw had a manufacturer supplying his team and, let's say Minardi, was with the same problem, would TW be on Minardi's side?

"Even though, I think that they [the FIA] should allow Arrows to compete, to increase the number of cars on the grid, Bernie should also help them to find a manufacturer - i.e. like Audi."
Ernani Judice (24) - Brazil.

"To be honest, I wasn't surprised, when I heard the news, in fact I was waiting for it to come. Don't get me wrong: I'm truly sorry for Arrows, and would be very happy to see them racing (even if only for a few races). They are a very determined little team, with lots of brainpower and little budget. On races where they have entered, they were often better, than Jaguar, the factory team with (almost) the same engine.

"But let's face it: Arrows made a clown of FIA at this season's French GP. Everyone knew what happened (except for some big F1 fans of mine, and our TV-commentator). They always kept claiming, that they'd be racing on the next GP, but reality proved otherwise.

"So if you look it at that way, you'll see that the FIA had made the right choice. The simply had to make an example of Arrows: "Mess with us, and you'll get this!".

"If Arrows had have paid the entry fee earlier, and without so much fuss then MAYBE they would be allowed to race. I'm certain, that Arrows will try to use every legal option they have to change the opinion of the FIA.

"However, I truly believe that we won't see the Arrows racing next year, no matter how hard they try to fight the FIA.

"They virtually have no budget. The mysterious investor company will pay only when Arrows have officially entered the 2003 season. Without the proof of a stabile financial background (and therefore a guarantee that they WILL race throughout the entire season, and not repeat any of this year's happenings), the FIA won't allow them to race. It's a catch 22 situation.

"The only possible way for Arrows is to build up a strong background, and come back for the 2004 season. I hope they'll be able to do it. But I have a feeling that they won't. I hope I am wrong..."
Istvan Jaloveczki (21) - Hungary.

"After the bullshit with Arrows last season [2002] who can blame the FIA. Tom Walkinshaw had no problem messing with Minardi's monies so now he can discover what it's like getting f***ed with for little or no reason. On another note, get rid of Bernie and his 53 per cent cut. If he really cared about dragging F1 up out of the sewer then he would do everything he could. He's rich enough as it is... isn't he?"
Chris Sweeney (23) - USA.

"As an F1 fan, and as disappointing as it is to see a team go under, I cannot see the point in allowing Arrows an entry. Yes it would add something to the sport to have another team on the grid, but they've had their chance(s). Somewhere you have to draw a line where the rules and economics overrule the sporting side, and this is it folks."
Andrew Herring (26) - England.

Finally Crash.net would like to thank all those people that replied to our "...have your say" story as without them this article would not be possible.

Crash.net would also like to reassure people that those replying to us via our views@crash.net email will NOT have their details passed on to a third party or added to any mailing list.