Toro Rosso makes Force India an offer

In what is clearly as move to appease Force India (formerly Spyker) in the long running customer car row, the Italian team is said to have made a financial offer to its Indian rival.

Germany`s Auto Motor und Sport reports that Toro Rosso has offered Force India half of its 2008 prize money with the sole condition that it will only do so if the Silverstone-based outfit doesn`t finish in the Top 10 in the Constructors` Championship this year.

Franz Tost, though he doesn`t mention the offer, is quoted as saying: "We are in the right according to the regulations…at the moment the only ones who are winning are the lawyers. We want the case shelved at last and to make the road free for a new Concorde Agreement".

Toro Rosso scored two points in the opening round of the championship and looks certain to finish in the Top Ten, partly thanks to its driver line-up, and partly due to the fact that it is using Red Bull`s (ever improving) package.

However, with the rules for customer cars changing in time for 2010 - they`re banned! - Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz has recently announced that he is putting Toro Rosso up for sale, though Gerhard Berger is hopeful that a solution will be found.

27.3.2008   ▪ Formula One    ▪ Force India, Toro Rosso    ▪ www.pitpass.com