Araujo takes Motorsport Italia to court

Through a press release that he published on his website, Armindo Araujo wanted to present his version of the facts concerning his ouster from the WRC Team Mini Portugal. According to him, Motorsport Italia did not respect its commitments and even produced false press releases to explain its replacement by Chris Atkinson.

« On August 15, Motorsport Italia asked me for permission to use the WRC Team Mini Portugal license? which belongs exclusively to Armindo Araujo Lda? so that it can be used for another driver until the end of the season, explains the Portuguese. For obvious reasons, I refused to give them permission to use the license. The following day, August 16, Motorpsort Italia informed me that I was no longer the driver of the team or any associated team for the Rally from Germany until the end of the season, without valid justification or explanation. »

Araujo should have taken the wheel of the 01B version of the Mini John Cooper Works WRC from August 10-12 for a testing session in Italy, but the Portuguese would have been put in a rather delicate situation by Motorsport Italia. “ During the three days I spent in Italy, I was not allowed to test the car. I was put under pressure to say that I was ill and that I would not be at the start of the German Rally. »

Following these various events, Armindo Araujo decided to take the matter to court. “ After August 17, I informed Motorsport Italia, Mini Germany and Mini Portugal that I had collected the documents relating to this matter and provided them to its lawyers, who will take all legal measures to protect my name and the project , who I respect enormously. »