Jean Todt has had to postpone his visit to Epsilon Euskadi’s factory after strong winds at the Torrejón airport in Madrid left his plane grounded.
The FIA president had been scheduled to visit the Spanish teams HQ as they bid to join the F1 grid in 2011. The meeting aimed to impress Todt with Epsilon’s facilities.
A statement on the team’s website confirmed the cancellation, but insisted a new date would be found for the visit.
“Adverse weather conditions prevented the eagerly awaited visit of the FIA’s President, together with the RFEA and RACC Presidents, to the Technological Innovation Centre.
“Although it had to be cancelled today, everyone’s wish and thrill coincides in the intention of finding a new date out, agendas permitting, to celebrate the awaited meeting.”
Team owner Joan Villadelprat added: “First of all, I would like to thank Mr. Todt, Mr. Gracia and Mr. Salvadó for their interest and wish to [re]arrange the visit, as well as their efforts until the last moment for this meeting to take place. It was an important visit to present the Epsilon project in all its magnitude to the FIA’s President.
“Both considering the possibility of getting the Formula 1 license but also to show him the rest of the car industry projects’ we are currently working on. I would also like to really thank the members of the press that attended the call and waited for more than three hours before the visit had to be called off. Now we should look on the bright side since I am sure that, as soon as their agenda allows it, we will reschedule the meeting.”
The president of the Spanish Motor Federation, Carlos Gracia, also in attendance was ‘gutted’ to hear that the meeting wasn’t to go ahead.
“I was gutted when we had to decide to call off the visit. Not only given the enthusiasm we put into planning Jean Todt’s trip to discover Epsilon’s facilities, which are a real Spanish pride, but also given the acquired commitment with the attending media.
“We waited nearly four hours to travel but finally the strong wind prevented us [from] fly[ing]. Jean Todt will come back to Spain and we will arrange a new encounter for him to get to know firsthand the magnificent facilities that Epsilon has.”
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