Oliver Behring, is the 37-year-old investment banker currently handling the possible buy-out of the Arrows F1™ team.

The German has told the German press that he rates Arrows chances of being on the grid in Melbourne at 99.95%, which will come as great news to the team's many supporters. However the deal is shrouded in mystery, including the identity of the people behind the proposed purchaser, German Grand Prix Racing GmbH.

It's now understood that the principal backer is Prince Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, a member of Dubai's ruling family, and that in the short term Behring has bravely taken out a bridging loan to facilitate the deal.

In an interview with German daily Die Welt, Behring gave a little more insight into the deal that might save Arrows.

Having taken on the bridging loan, Behring was asked if he was concerned that the 'backer' might jump ship?: "No," he replied. "It would ruin everything, but it had to be done. The FIA told Walkinshaw that the deposit for the 2003 season had to be paid if Arrows is to be included in the entry list which is released on December 1."

Prince Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum is involved in a number of projects including airlines, shipping, movies and of course Powerboats, the Formula One™ of the water, why would he want to get involved in F1™?: "I act on behalf of the Sheikh," said Behring. "I do not know what his motives are. I simply acquired the majority (60%) of Arrows on his behalf, the exact figures of the deal I cannot recall."

And what will Behring's role be?: "I imagine that I would join the executive committee," he says.

How did the deal come about?: "It came about due to a former financial adviser of Alain Prost," says Behring, referring to the former World Champion and team owner, whose team 'went bust' at the end of 2001. "We were involved in talks with Prost but the conditions weren't right."

Behring then admitted that although German Grand Prix Racing GmbH is not yet a registered company, the formation is in progress and will eventually be 'based' in Hamburg.

At a time when sponsors appear to be deserting the sport in droves, isn't he fearful for Arrows?: "Yes," says Behring. "But there are still plenty of prospective sponsors out there, straight ones! I have already received a fax from one candidate."

With regards drivers: "If a competitive German driver were available, I'd snap him up in an instant," says Behring. "However an inexperienced youngster can be a risk."

Of course we wish Herr Behring well, but this all does seem incredibly naive. Only yesterday it was revealed that contrary to previous reports Morgan Grenfell is not out of the picture and more importantly it is still after the money it invested in the Leafield outfit.

One wonders whether Herr Behring was privy to this information when he paid the team's deposit for the 2003 season, let alone the multi-million pound bridging loan.

There is nothing to guarantee that the FIA will accept Arrows' entry or that Morgan Grenfell will not win its case, in which case Behring could find himself seriously out of pocket.