AUGUST 21, 2010

Aerolab claims first round in Force India legal battle

Legal battles between Italian aerodynamics company Aerolab and Force India are ongoing after it was revealed that the High Court in London has issued an order compelling Force India to pay more than 1m euros.

Legal battles between Italian aerodynamics company Aerolab and Force India are ongoing after an Aerolab statement revealed that The Queen's Bench Division in the High Court of Justice in London has issued an order compelling Force India to pay 1,074,730 euros, plus damages and interest at the rate of 8% in settlement of unpaid fees.

Force India, meanwhile, has launched a counter-action relating to wind-tunnel development models employed by Lotus in the design of its current F1 chassis.

Aerolab said that, "As a result of the retaliatory action already taken by Force India, it is expected that Aerolab Director, Mr Jean Claude Migeot, will soon be charged pursuant to a criminal complaint filed in Bologna. Aerolab is confident in the positive outcome of all judicial matters in this affair."

The statement added: "It appears that Force India's strategy will be to try and force Aerolab into a settlement that the company has no intention of accepting. The upcoming Italian Grand Prix at Monza, during which Force India's assets will be present under Italian jurisdiction, could trigger further exchanges of action between the two parties."

The Aerolab statement appears to be a strong hint that the company could attempt to have Force India property impounded at the forthcoming Monza race as a result of the legal situation between the two companies.