BAR's cars have been released Profile: BAR team

But the ruling came too late to allow the team to compete in Friday's free practice session. The cars will, however, run in the first qualifying session.

BAR's cars had been impounded on Thursday by French police over a dispute about an alleged unpaid debt.

The F1 team are being sued by Monaco production company PPGI, who claim the constructor owes a $3m (�1.8m) commission for negotiating sponsoring rights.

The cars had been locked in sealed trucks at the circuit overnight with legal notices posted on the doors preventing mechanics touching them.

"The order was totally invalid and it's been lifted by the court this morning," said team boss David Richards.

It's really strange that we went into court at 0900, presented our case in 10 minutes and didn't get a judgement until 1130 Dave Richards

With drivers Jacques Villeneuve and Jenson Button having missed free practice, Richards is considering a move to counter-sue.

"We will have to quantify the damages caused by missing the session and that will be for the lawyers.

"We're just going to go around slowly this afternoon, clearly it's a new circuit here now and the drivers have never driven on it before.

"So they will drive around sensibly and there is little question that they will be at the back of the grid for qualifying tomorrow.

"How much of a handicap that will prove depends on the weather conditions."

Richards was also disappointed at how the legal system responded to the need for instant action.

"It's really strange that we went into court at 0900, presented our case in 10 minutes and didn't get a judgement until 1130."

BAR were threatened with a similar fate at the Monaco Grand Prix.

The dispute stretches back five years, before Richards replaced Craig Pollock as team boss.