Renault called to answer 'spying' charge

Last Modified: 08 Nov 2007
Source: ITN

Renault are facing a charge of possessing "confidential information" belonging to McLaren.

Representatives of the French team are facing a hearing of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Monaco on December 6.

The FIA's website said: "The team representatives have been called to answer a charge that between September 2006 and October 2007, in breach of article 151c of the International Sporting Code, the Renault F1 Team had unauthorised possession of documents and confidential information belonging to Vodafone McLaren Mercedes."

It added that the documents "included, but were not limited to the layout and critical dimensions of the McLaren F1 car, together with details of the McLaren fuelling system, gear assembly, oil cooling system, hydraulic control system and a novel suspension component used by the 2006 and 2007 McLaren F1 cars."

McLaren, who were hit with a £47.5 million fine and thrown out of the 2007 World Constructors' Championship after being found guilty of a similar charge in September, have yet to comment on the matter

But a spokesman for Renault said: "Ever since the matter was brought to our attention, we have acted with complete transparency towards McLaren and the FIA and we will continue to do so."

Renault were dragged into the McLaren spying affair earlier this year when it was alleged a former member of staff had taken several CDs worth of data to the Renault team.

McLaren's lawyers brought the matter to the attention of the FIA on the eve of their own hearing in September, which prompted the investigation by the sport's governing body.

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