Britain's planned new Formula One team insisted today it did have the right to compete in the 2002 Formula One World Championship.
Phoenix Finance Ltd released a letter from the French liquidators of the defunct Prost team to Max Mosley, president of world governing body FIA, claiming it proved they had bought an entry into the championship along with other assets.
FIA had said earlier in this week that Phoenix - which turned up in Malaysia for Sunday's race with two 2001-spec Prost chassis - had not bought a right to enter the championship in its £2.5 million sterling purchase of the Prost assets.
Phoenix Finance managing director Charles Nickerson said: "We are sorry that we have been blocked from participating in the 2002 Malaysian Grand Prix.
"Phoenix intends to redress this situation and to take up its rightful position on the starting grid as soon as possible," he said.
PA