'Spying' charges dropped

Line drawn under 2007 controversy

Last updated: 23rd February 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

'Spying' charges dropped

Saga: McLaren and Ferrari

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The so-called 'spying' saga that gripped Formula One two seasons ago has finally been closed after McLaren Mercedes reached an agreement with legal authorities in Italy.

Charges against former McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan and three current employees of the Woking-based team have now been dropped on a 'nolo contendere' (no contest) basis.

However, Coughlan will have to pay €180,000 (£158,000) in exchange for not contesting charges of copyright infringement relating to Ferrari's data.

Coughlan was at the heart of the controversy that led to McLaren being fined around $100million in 2007 by the FIA for what the latter termed "fraudulent conduct".

World motorsport's governing body said that, having received confidential information from former Ferrari employee Nigel Stepney, Coughlan had disseminated it amongst senior McLaren staff.

Engineers Paddy Lowe, Jonathan Neale and Rob Taylor will each have to pay €150,000 (£131,500).

A McLaren spokesman said: "The proceedings in Italy were merely the officialising of what had been proposed long before, namely the 'nolo contendere' agreement.

"A line has finally been drawn under this matter."

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