UNITED KINGDOM: MC LAREN FORMULA ONE BOSS RON DENNIS SAY'S HE HOPES FIA WON'T LEGISLATE AGAINST TEAM ORDERS AT FORTHCOMING MEETING

Record ID: 337854

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: MC LAREN FORMULA ONE BOSS RON DENNIS SAY'S HE HOPES FIA WON'T LEGISLATE AGAINST TEAM ORDERS AT FORTHCOMING MEETING
  • Date: 17th March 1998
  • Summary: SHEPHERDS BUSH, LONDON (MARCH 17, 1998). (REUTERS TELEVISION, NO RESTRICTIONS) 1. McLAREN F1 CAR ON ITS OWN 2. CUTAWAY OF CAMERAMAN 3. YOUNG DRIVERS SITTING ON McLAREN FORMULA ONE CAR 4. CUTAWAY OF CAMERAMEN FILMING DENNIS 5. YOUNG KARTERS TALKING TO McLAREN MANAGING DIRECTOR RON DENNIS 6. SIGN SAYING 'RACE CONTROL' 7. DENNIS ASKED ABOUT THE FORTHCOMING DISCUSSION AT FIA WORLD COUNCIL ABOUT TEAM ORDERS IN FORMULA ONE. HE SAYS: "I HOPE THEY COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT ITS FUNDAMENTAL TO THE SPORT THAT TEAM ORERS REMAIN BECAUSE THAT IS A HISTORICAL VALUE OF GP RACING. IMAGINE A 24-HOUR RACE WITHOUT TEAM ORDERS. THE SPORTING REGULATIONS SHOLD EXIST THROUGHOUT THE SPORT. IF YOU GO BACK IN HISTORY SOME OF THE GREATEST RACES HAVE BEEN INFLUENCED BY THE TEAM DETERMINING WHICH DRIVER SHOULD WIN AND THAT GOES BACK TO FANGIO, MOSS, HAWTHORN AND RIGHT UP TO IRVINE AND SCHUMACHER IN SUZUKA LAST YEAR. THIS ISN'T GOING TO GO AWAY."(ENGLISH). 8. CUTAWAY OF DENNIS BEING INTERVIEWED 9. DENNIS ASKED FOR HIS REACTION THAT THE WORLD COUNCIL IS TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE OF TEAM ORDERS AT ITS MEETING ON WEDNESDAY (MARCH 18). "THE WORLD COUNCIL COMPRISES MOTOR RACING PEOPLE AND PEOPLE WHO KNOW ABOUT MOTOR RACING AND WHILST NOTHING CEASES TO SURPRISE ME IN MOTOR RACING I WOULD BE SOMEWHAT DISAPPOINTED IF THERE WAS A CHANGE IN THE REGULATIONS." (ENGLISH). 10. McLAREN CAR AS KARTERS RACE PAST Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 1st April 1998 13:00
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  • Location: SHEPHERDS BUSH, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVAAMV13JV367JRE2Q0L3GL3S8M6
  • Story Text: Ron Dennis, managing director of the McLaren formula one team, says he hopes the sports governing body will not move to legislate against team orders when it meets Wednesday (March 18) to discuss the controversy that marred the first race of the season in Australia 10 days ago.

    The FIA World Council, the governing body of Grand Prix racing, is to meet Wednesday (March 18) to discuss thre issue of team orders which led to controversy at the opening race of the season in Australia on March 8.

    But team boss ron Dennis, architect of the controversial decision buy one of his drivers to step aside for the other two laps from the flag, says he would be "somewhat disappointed" if there was a change in the regulations.

    The drivers of his two utterly dominant McLarens, David Coulthard and Mika Hakkinen, had struck a pre-race deal that the car leading into the first bend would be allowed to win the 58-lap race.

    Despite falling behind because of an unnecessary pit stop Hakkinen was allowed to re-take the lead after 56 laps by his teammate, Coulthard and went on to win.

    The McLarens, armed with a controversial second brake, lapped the entire field as they raced to a crushing 1-2 triumph.

    Dennis has said the first corner rule will continue for the opening race in Brazil and then his two drivers will 'most probably' be allowed to compete no-holds barred for the rest of the championship - even if it costs McLaren the drivers and the constructors titles.

    Asked about the FIA plans to discuss team orders when it meets on Wednesday (March 18) Dennis said: "I hope they coem to the conclusion that its fundamental to the sport that team orders remain because they have a hsitorical value for motor racing.

    "Imagine a 24-hour race without team orders.The regulations should exist across the sport.If you go back in history some of the greatest races have been influenced by the team determining which driver should win a race - and that goes right back to Fangio, Moss, Hawthorn and right back to irvine and Schumacher at Suzuka last year.This isn't going to go away." "The World Council comprises people whoi know about motor racing and whilst nothing ceases to surprise me in motor racing I would be somewhat disappointed if there was a change in the regulations," he added.

    Dennis was speaking at the launch of the 1998 Champions of the Future karting series which is backed by McLaren and its engine supplier, Mercedes.

    dennis a keen karter in his youth is backign the series, he says, as a way of putting something back into the sport which has made his a multi-millionaire and a household name as owner of the McLaren team.

    1998 is the third year McLaren has backed the initiative as a way of helping underfinanced young talent at the sport's lowest levels.

    The series is run by ex-karting world champion martin Hines who's Young Guns series was responsible for the early development of David Coulthard, one of Mclaren's two drivers in this years Formula One world championship.


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