Financial support from fans keep Caterham afloat for Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

An appeal to the public and from investors to raise £2.35 million (Dh13.7m) through an online crowd-funding effort has Caterham ready to go at Yas Marina Circuit and trying to secure a long-term future for the team, reports Graham Caygill.

Caterham drivers Marcus Ericsson, left, and Kamui Kobayashi drive at the Silverstone circuit in Silverstone on July 6, 2014 during the British Formula One Grand Prix. AFP PHOTO / TOM GANDOLFINI

ABU DHABI // There will be 20 cars on the grid for Sunday’s Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as Caterham have made the stage despite their financial woes, a situation that even surprised one of their drivers, Kamui Kobayashi.

The team, who are 11th and last in the constructors’ standings with no points scored in 2014, went into administration last month, missed the past two races in the United States and Brazil, and this week made 230 staff redundant.

But an appeal to the public and from investors to raise £2.35 million (Dh13.7m) through an online crowd-funding effort has them ready to go at Yas Marina Circuit and trying to secure a long-term future for the team, which has been on the grid since 2010.

While the fund only raised £1.8m, sponsors reportedly made up the shortfall with a staff of about 40 travelling to the UAE to get the cars on the track.

With Marcus Ericsson having pulled out of the race, Kobayashi will line-up on the grid on Sunday with debutant British driver Will Stevens as his ­teammate.

Kobayashi, who drove with the team in the first 16 events of the season, acknowledged he had not expected to be in Abu Dhabi to race this weekend

“I saw it was very difficult because when I saw the crowd-funding stuff I think it didn’t really reach the target, but I have to thank the fans and the sponsors for the support,” the Japanese driver said.

“I really appreciate being here. I think our target is to finish the race and see where we are. I’m very proud to be here, even in a very difficult situation, still surviving for last place.”

Stevens, who won two races in the Formula Renault 3.5 series this season to finish in fourth place in that competition, said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be getting this opportunity and am very grateful to everyone involved at Caterham F1 team for giving it to me.

“I feel ready for the challenge of my F1 debut and look forward to working as part of the team in a race environment after all the work we’ve done together previously in the tests I’ve completed and back at Leafield in the simulator.”

Constructors’ championship standings

Mercedes-GP, 651 pts

Red Bull Racing, 373

Williams-Mercedes, 254

Ferrari, 210

McLaren-Mercedes, 161

Force India-Mercedes, 127

Toro Rosso-Renault, 30

Lotus-Renault, 10

Marussia-Ferrari, 2

Sauber-Ferrari, 0

Caterham-Renault, 0

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