The initiative has been hugely controversial in the sport, but popular with
fans. Bernie Ecclestone, the sport’s supremo, said it was “disastrous”
before joking that the team might be able to make it to the desert but not
have enough money for the trip home.
Gérard Lopez, the Lotus
owner, also questioned the ethics of the idea while eyebrows were raised
when it emerged that Crowdcube – the company behind the initiative – is a
client of Caterham’s administrators, Smith and Williamson.
The website for donations, with around 5,000 backers, has resembled a fire
sale more than anything else. Everything from old front wings, to race
overalls, even dinner with one of their drivers has been on offer. What
state the team will be in after Abu Dhabi is also unclear.
Staff have not been paid since September 30, and development on next year’s
car has ground to a halt.