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F1: Sir Jack To Fight New Brabham Entry

AUSTRALIAN MOTORSPORT LEGEND, Sir Jack Brabham is considering taking legal action after German company Formtech submitted an entry for the 2010 Formula 1 season as Brabham Grand Prix.
Formtech boss Franz Hilmer, who has previously run an outfit in the For


AUSTRALIAN MOTORSPORT LEGEND, Sir Jack Brabham is considering taking legal action after German company Formtech submitted an entry for the 2010 Formula 1 season as Brabham Grand Prix.

Formtech boss Franz Hilmer, who has previously run an outfit in the Formula Three Euroseries, is believed to own the rights to the ‘Brabham’ brand and is one of the frontrunners to secure a berth on the F1 grid next season.

However, only 24 hours after confirming his intentions to compete under the famous moniker, the Brabham family released a statement, suggesting it is prepared to fight attempts to revive the team.

The statement read: "Sir Jack Brabham and the Brabham family have expressed their surprise at the recent news reporting that an entry has been submitted for the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship by Formtech, with the intention of operating as Brabham Grand Prix Limited.

"The family would like to make it clear that they are in no way involved with Brabham Grand Prix Limited and received no consultation regarding the company's plans to resurrect their historic name in Formula One.

"The family is taking legal advice and will take necessary steps to protect their name, reputation and its goodwill.''

The new Brabham Grand Prix is set to be formed from the remnants of the former Super Aguri F1 team, who went into liquidation early last year after a deal to sell the team to Arab investors collapsed.

Hilmer subsequently purchased the team’s assets, including its Leafield Technical Centre, team transporters and cars, while hiring its staff to work in composite manufacturing, laying the groundwork for a serious tilt at F1.

While Hilmer is set to be the team principal, Australian Mark Preston will be appointed technical director, a continuation of the role he held at Super Aguri.

Preston though will also be able to impart a significant amount of experience and knowledge gained in more successful environments, having worked as an engineer at Arrows and McLaren.

If successful in obtaining one of the final three grid slots, the Brabham team announced in a statement it will operate as a cost-capped outfit.

"The Brabham Grand Prix team has the pleasure to announce its application as a 'Cost Cap Formula 1 Team' for the FIA 2010 Formula 1 World Championship," the statement said.

"We appreciate the FIA rules for cost capped F1 teams and are convinced that the budget limitation is a contemporary obligation, and will effect a revitalisation of the Formula 1 World Championship.

"We would be happy to enter into Formula 1 as a Cost Cap Team and to meet the challenge under the new rules."

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