FEBRUARY 22, 1999
Tom loses to Diniz
The Contract Recognition Board met in Geneva, Switzerland, on February 12 to discuss the case and ruled on Friday that the contract between Diniz and Sauber is a valid one. This means that the previous contract with Arrows was terminated "in accordance with its terms". A nice way of saying that Walkinshaw had lost.
The case marks a rather bitter end to a three-year relationship between Walkinshaw and Diniz, who poured at least $25m into the coffers of teams that the Scotsman was running. Initially Diniz drove for Ligier but when Walkinshaw switched to Arrows in 1997 Diniz went with him.
Tom will now have to find sponsorship from someone other than Pedro - and that is not going to be easy.