Giebler out but not down following DBA withdrawal.

After a topsy-turvy two weeks, Phil Giebler and the Den Bla Avis F3000 team found themselves at Silverstone as spectators rather than competitors.

The American entered the 2003 season very short on sponsorship, but an unexpected opportunity presented by David Sears and Paul Jackson arrived that would see him contesting the FIA F3000 series with a top ranked, former championship-winning team.

Funding was first found for two races, then four, and then an American businessman who was fond of F1 offered to help for additional races and all looked hopeful. Due to the recurrence of an injury suffered in Monaco, Giebler was unable to compete at the French GP meeting two weeks ago, outside of an abbreviated attempt at qualifying, precipitating a dramatic ten days in which the funding evaporated - at least for this weekend's round at Silverstone.

Fellow American Derek Hill found himself in a similar circumstances at Sears' sister team, Super Nova, and the empresario was forced to make the tough decision of moving Giebler's team-mate Nicolas Kiesa from Den Bla Avis into Hill's seat at Super Nova, and temporarily withdrawing the entire DBA team from the championship.

"To say I'm devastated would be somewhat of an understatement, but I really don't want people to think I'm racked with despair," Giebler admitted, "In fact, I feel pretty hopeful and somewhat satisfied...

"There wasn't much of a chance that I'd even get into this series six months ago, but I've done four races and a good day of testing thus far, and we've had good results, all things considered. It's not over until it's over either - there are still three races to go, and we are working hard at getting back in the cockpit by Hockenheim. If it happens, it happens. If not, my career is not over.

"I've gotten more onto the F1 radar by running in this championship, I've showed people what I'm capable of, I've learned a great deal and I've made a lot of new friends. I'm better off and in a better place than I was at the beginning of the season.

"If this is the last time I have a chance to comment on this very situation, then I'm very grateful to David Sears, Paul Jackson, the Den Bla Avis team, Nicolas and the Super Nova guys too. It was hard work coming in late as I did, but they all dug in to help me feel welcome, help me learn - and worked their butts off to make sure that we did as well as possible on the track. They are good people and run excellent teams.

"As I said, we'll do our best to be out there again before the end of the year but, if not, I'll be back next season for certain."