Sauber loses van der Garde appeal

© XPB 

Sauber has lost its appeal against a court order that it must run Giedo van der Garde as one of its race drivers this season.

Van der Garde claimed Sauber had reneged on a deal for him to race this season, with the Supreme Court of Victoria ruling in his favour on Wednesday. Sauber immediately appealed the decision, with the hearing running in to Thursday before being rejected by the three appeal judges late in the afternoon.

As a result, Sauber has been ordered to do everything in its power to run van der Garde, who needs to finalise his super licence and have a seat fitting in order to be able to race in Sunday's Australian Grand Prix.

Van der Garde has also sought an enforcement order to ensure Sauber complies, with the team having already named Felipe Nasr and Marcus Ericsson as its race drivers for the 2015 season.

Sauber has yet to comment on the decision.

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