Caterham F1 team thanks contributors for return to grid

Financially troubled Caterham Formula 1 Team, currently under administration but back in the grid for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after raising 1.8million pounds from crowdfunding, has thanked all contributors for their assistance in a statement Thursday.

The team went into administration in October. They were last on the grid at the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi in October and missed the following two races in the United States and Brazil.

The team then managed to collect 1.8 million pounds over the last ten days via the Crowdcube crowdfunding page.

"The amount of support and backing we have received since we were appointed as administrators of the Caterham F1 Team has been overwhelming, especially during the last ten days where we have managed to not only arrive in Abu Dhabi, but also set-up and get the cars ready to race," team administrator and principal Finbarr O'Connell said in a statement.

"Before we get out on track we would therefore like to thank everyone for making this possible: important race partners such as Renault, Red Bull Technology, Pirelli, Dell and Total, who we highly depend on in order to race, have been very supportive of us and made it easier to believe that it was going to be possible to be here - thank you. And, of course, thanks also to the team members who are the 'human engine' of this team and who have never given up on it."