Formula One: Van der Garde wins court ruling against Sauber
Van der Garde had claimed he was guaranteed a drive for the 2015 season.
MELBOURNE (AFP) - An Australian court on Wednesday ruled that Dutchman Giedo van der Garde can drive for Sauber at the season-opening Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne this weekend.
Van der Garde had claimed he was guaranteed a drive for the 2015 season but that the Swiss team reneged on the deal and instead handed births to Sweden s Marcus Ericsson and rookie Brazilian Felipe Nasr.
He originally took his case to a Swiss arbitration tribunal which ordered Sauber to keep him on the team, and Supreme Court Justice Clyde Croft backed that ruling, enforcing it in Victoria state.
The decision opens the door to the 29-year-old driving at the Australian Grand Prix this weekend, giving him just two days to prepare for Friday s pre-race practice sessions.
Sauber lawyer Rodney Garratt had argued it would be "reckless" to let him compete in an unfamiliar car and without going through the two-week custom seat-fitting process.
He said such a move would put other drivers and support staff at an "unacceptable" risk and it would be "reckless and dangerous".
But van der Garde s lawyer Tom Clarke said in 2012, a Formula One driver was fitted with a seat just three days after being granted a drive by an emergency ruling.
