April 11, 2004
FinOz Racing Press department have published the following statement after ongoing talks in the media about FinOz Racing having reliability issues.

As a reply to yesterdays Phoenix F1 Press release, and specially to these comments:

'With FinOz struggling on the reliability front in Malaysia, did he see breakdowns as causing problems in the race and perhaps helping the Phoenix cars move up the grid?

"FinOz clearly have a reliability issue, as was shown last race. Their march up the BHP ladder has been to the detriment of potential reliability."'

"FinOz Racing team wonders about the talk about their cars reliability, with the latest press release from Phoenix F1 team, Andy Graydon, told as a fact that FinOz Racing would have major reliability problem. FinOz Racing wants to state that the retirement at Malaysian Grand Prix was a one-off mechanical failure which does happen in motor racing and can happen to anybody out there, also to Phoenix F1 drivers.

FinOz Racing also wants to clear the talks about playing with high risk for getting better performance out of the Ferrari Engine. Team engineers have carefully calculated what BHP's can be used and what the reliability will be.

With the in-season testing after Austrian Grand Prix team will continue to develop the customer Ferrari engine, and that doesn't mean they would consentrate only on the reliability of the engine."

Team Manager Kari Koski also gave a short announcement related to this "fuss" around FinOz Racing:

"It is interesting to read that we would have a reliability problem. I just think some team managers and drivers just don't want to lose to a new team like FinOz Racing. I'm sure they thought before the season started that we are not a threat to them, but as the first races and qualifyings of the season have proved, they were wrong. We are here to stay and we will get stronger and stronger in every test, qualifying and race we do, remeber that."

F1VWC News comment - "Seems that F1VWC Supremo and Phoenix F1 boss Andy Graydon has caused some controversy with his comments of late! And it's nice to see fellow team owners willing to stand up and say what they mean!! Good on you, Kari."