MELBOURNE, Australia (AFP) - Formula One team Minardi was granted a court injunction to compete in qualifying sessions for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix after race officials had ordered them to comply with new regulations.
A judge in the Victorian Supreme Court ruled that the F1 minnows could participate in Saturday qualifying given that the matter was considered urgent.
Minardi team principal Paul Stoddart sought the court injunction after FIA stewards had told his team they had to comply with the 2005 safety regulations to participate in the Australian GP.
The court was adjourned until Saturday when the issue could be discussed further, the presiding judge said.
Stoddart said outside the court he was relieved his cars could get on the track on Saturday.
"Now it's in the hands of the court, I really can't say anymore than that except that Minardi will be participating tomorrow, as usual, at the Grand Prix," Stoddart said.
"It's really fantastic to actually get on the track in the wake of all the publicity."
Earlier FIA stewards blocked Minardi's efforts to start their cars over the weekend unless the struggling team complied with new regulations.
Although Stoddart said he had received the consent of the other nine teams to run last year's cars in the race FIA stewards found it unacceptable to change the new season regulations.
Stewards told Minardi that for them to participate in the Australian GP their cars had to comply with the 2005 safety regulations.
The Minardi team garage doors remained shut while the other teams had their first outings in the two practice sessions on the Melbourne street circuit.
Stoddart had argued before the stewards that the technical regulations could be immediately changed by the FIA provided they had the consent of the other teams.
But the stewards stated in their ruling, "although regard is given not only to the very clear representations made by and on behalf of the Minardi team and also to the views expressed in writing by the other competitors, the competitor (Minardi) is nonetheless participating in a world championship which has a given set of both technical and sporting regulations.
"It is the view of the stewards that it is inappropriate and unacceptable to alter the technical regulations with which all other competitors comply in order to suit the individual needs and requirements of one competitor such that that individual competitor would participate in a Grand Prix event in circumstances where his car runs to a technical specification which differs from all other participants."
FIA president Mosley said Stoddart and Minardi had known about the new season regulations for almost six months.
"Paul has known about the new bodywork regulations since September 6, 2004 and in fact his team voted for them that day in common with all the other teams," Mosley said.
"We understand that he has the latest bodywork in Melbourne, even if he has not yet tested it fully.
"We also understand that at least three teams would object to him running outside the regulations.
"If he decides not to run, we think it unlikely that the Melbourne organisers will seek compensation from him." :banana: :banana:
