The new A1 Grand Prix series faces an 11th-hour legal challenge from the organisers of the Australian Grand Prix.
A1GP, billed as a 'World Cup of motorsport', faces legal action from Melbourne organiser Ron Walker, who is accusing the new series of infringing his intellectual property rights.
The precise details of the accusation were not revealed but the issue is believed to centre on use of the term 'grand prix'.
With an Australian A1 Grand Prix race scheduled at Eastern Creek, it seems Walker feels the new championship has strayed too close to the Australian Grand Prix rights he pays Bernie Ecclestone millions of dollars for.
Walker issued a statement after talks between lawyers for both groups broke down.
It read: "It is unfortunate that the matter has come to this, however, the corporation must protect its valuable intellectual property in relation to the grand prix."
