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Taken from SKYSPORTS.com
Car manufacturers threatening a post-2008 F1 breakaway series have relaunched themselves under the Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA) banner.
The new group's launch sees the realignment of the existing Grand Prix Racing (GPR) grouping of BMW, DaimlerChrysler and Renault to explicitly include Toyota and Honda as members.
And with Honda's admittance, the EMA immediately responded to last week's decision by the FIA International Court of Appeal to ban the BAR-Honda team for two races by stating that it would use an independent body to arbitrate in such matters.
Last week's decision by the court to prevent the team from racing in Spain and Monaco, as well as stripping them of points earned at the San Marino Grand Prix, after deciding BAR ran underweight cars at Imola was one that found general consensus within the F1 paddock.
But the EMA is concerned by the court's independence: last Wednesday's ruling was on an appeal brought by the FIA itself, after the sport's governing body disagreed with the decision of Imola race stewards not to disqualify Jenson Button's third-placed car.
The EMA has now said that it would prefer to use an alternative organisation to settle such disputes - assumed to be the Court of Arbitration for Sport used by most major sporting competitions.
"Following the events of the past week in Formula One, the manufacturers again confirmed that the issue of sporting governance is central to the comprehensive set of governing principles which the manufacturers unanimously agreed in January 2005," a statement read.
"One of their objectives is to have a definitive interpretation of the applicable regulations through an independent, readily accessible and swift appeals process, administered by an internationally recognised body, in accordance with the practice of other major sports."
But the five manufacturers have agreed that their proposed series would - for one year at least - comply with an FIA proposal that has caused much controversy: the introduction of 2.4 litre V8 engines next season.
"The manufacturers also discussed engine regulations and agreed to propose to use 2.4l V8 engines until the end of 2008 in order to ensure stability of engines for three years," the statement continued.
"Beyond 2008, the manufacturers will jointly develop a new engine proposal for the sport."
The EMA grouping has been borne from a discontentment among its members about the way the sport is currently run, in particular a perceived lack of transparency, as well as a dissatisfaction among most teams with their share of the sport's commercial revenues - enshrined in the 'Concorde Agreement' that is due to expire at the end of 2007.
Only Ferrari, who reputedly receive a larger share of the sport's revenues than their rivals, has thus far committed to F1 post-2008.
Teams allied to the EMA have twice boycotted FIA meetings this year to discuss the sport's future, but their latest statement also appears to indicate a softening in their stance on any future talks.
"The manufacturers look forward to meeting with the FIA in the near future to discuss this and other matters concerning regulations post-2007 and will continue to work in conjunction with the nine teams."
Now known as the Engine Manufacturers Association where does leave Stoddard. I guess he is not involved. Does this mean that Minardi are now the only members of GPWC thing seeming as Reb Bull and Midland are sat on the fence.
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