Gold Coast A1 GP without A1 GP cars?

Anyone have any further news on the A1 GP cars not yet shipped towards Australia? I saw a short clip on the local (Brisbane/Gold Coast) news, and a few short paraphrasings in other sports news sites (probably using the news story as their only source)

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26216253-5012789,00.html

A1GP race on Gold Coast left without carsArticle from: Font size: Decrease Increase Email article: Email Print article: Print Submit comment: Submit comment Steven Wardill, Mark Hinchliffe and Jeremy Pierce
October 15, 2009 11:00pm

ORGANISERS of the Gold Coast's showcase event have until today to prove the A1GP cars are booked to travel to Australia or the race could be over before it's even begun.

In scenes of high farce, the State Government yesterday gave organisers 24 hours to produce documents demonstrating the open-wheel racers were headed for the Gold Coast and threatened potential legal consequences.

The confusion and chaos surrounding whether the A1GP race would proceed escalated with the cars still impounded in London because of unpaid debts, tyre manufacturer Michelin refusing supplies because it is owed money and vehicle safety modifications unmet.

While team accommodation and visas have been organised, no one has booked for the vehicles to arrive at Brisbane Airport.

Acting Premier Paul Lucas yesterday insisted the Government were "nice people" but warned there would be ramifications if the A1GP racers failed to make the starting grid.

"We will make sure this event takes place and we expect the A1GP to be there," he said. "If not we will take the appropriate legal steps."

The failure of the cars to turn up for their inaugural race would be a major embarrassment for the Government, which invests $11 million annually in the event.

The A1GP was supposed to be the solution to ensuring open-wheel racing continued on the Gold Coast after Indy's demise. However the event has been plagued by problems, including the collapse of a major sponsor.

Event boss Greg Hooton insisted the rest of the event including the V8s would still go ahead – with or without the A1GP cars.

"They (the cars) could still get here on Wednesday morning," he said.

"Quarantine is a speedy process (and) there's a lot of spare capacity in the freight transport market. I'm not even going to speculate on the A1GP not being here."

Team Australia said the required modification was a "six-hour job" while their race car was packed and ready to board a flight from London at 7pm on Saturday.

"What has been confirmed is that there is a booking to load the cargo on Saturday night, which still brings it in on time," TA spokesman Patrick Wedes said.

Several motorsport sources yesterday said the new Superleague Formula, which began in 2008 and is owned by Champions League football teams, could replace the A1 cars.

Gold Coast motels are heavily booked for next weekend and Mr Hooton insisted the intense speculation had not affected ticket sales.

He said most ticket sales were from walk-up spectators anyway