Auto123.com - Helping you drive happy

F1: Test driver sues Force India for $2m

|
Get the best interest rate
Khatir Soltani
From GMM

Former formula one test driver Giedo van der Garde of the Netherlands has launched a legal claim against Formula 1 team Force India.

The Silverstone based team's previous owner, Spyker, employed the 23-year-old last year.

However, a contractual tussle ensued, because his Spyker contract clashed with a previous agreement made with Super Aguri, and his mileage last year was limited.

According to the Dutch publication Formule 1 Race Report, van der Garde - now competing in the World Series by Renault - is demanding sponsor money back from the team because he did not do as much testing as he was contractually promised.

It is reported that he wants two of the three million dollars that his sponsors paid to Spyker back.

He this week submitted papers with a court in Breda, a southern city of the Netherlands.

Van der Garde claims that the $3m payment to Spyker guaranteed him 6000 test kilometres, but he only actually drove 2000.

The court will hear the case on June 20.
Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
  • Over 6 years experience as a car reviewer
  • Over 50 test drives in the last year
  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada