BTCC series boss Alan Gow has revealed that he is both ‘surprised and disappointed’ by the announcement that the British F3 International Series has elected not to join the TOCA package for the 2009 season.
F3 teams were reported to be looking into the possibility of moving to the BTCC paddock for the 2009 season with the lure of a stronger television package and bigger crowds compared to its current position as the joint headline act on a bill that also includes the British GT Championship and a number of events in mainland Europe.
However, in a strongly worded statement, BTCC chief Gow revealed that the competing Formula 3 teams had already signed up to a contract that would have seen them become part of the TOCA package for the same three year period starting in 2009.
Although the Australian said he wouldn’t pursue action against the F3 teams for electing to go against the deal agreed, he did make it clear that he would have ‘no interest’ in taking Formula 3 onto the BTCC package in the future.
“During the course of the 2007 season, I was approached by individual F3 team-owners who wished to explore the possibility of F3 joining the TOCA package (on a permanent basis) from either 2008 or 2009,” he said.
“It should be made very clear from the outset that at no time did TOCA approach the F3 teams, either individually or collectively - it was solely those teams and their organisation whom instigated the approach and discussions. These negotiations progressed over the next few weeks to the stage where it was agreed that they would join the BTCC support races for a minimum period of 3 years, from 2009.
“As, collectively, the F3 teams did not have a legal-entity with which to enter into a formal agreement with ourselves, a new company (FOTA GB Ltd) was formed by the chairman of FOTA for that purpose. A legally binding contract was drawn-up with FOTA GB Ltd., on October 19th 2007 and signed thereafter by both organisations, to commit both parties to that 3 year period (2009, 2010, 2011).
“We are extremely surprised and disappointed to learn that FOTA GB and those teams have chosen to completely neglect the undertakings they made to TOCA. However, for the good of F3, we will not pursue any action against them for disregarding their obligations…after all, we entered into this arrangement for their direct benefit and as a sole result of their instigation, rather than ours.
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