McLaren Drag Renault Into Second Spygate Scandle

By Sam Cooper
November 9 2007

The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team has accused the Renault formula one team into a second spygate hearing over illigal use of McLaren data. McLaren were fined $100 Million earlier in the year, if Renault are found guilty, they could face a similar fine, which could mean the French team won't be able to sign Fernando Alonso.

A statement from the FIA reads:  

"Representatives of the Renault F1 Team have been requested to appear before a hearing of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Monaco on Thursday, December 6, 2007."

"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, including, but 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."

Phil Mackereth has been identified as the McLaren employee who took three CD's worth of McLaren information to the French team.