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Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Will McLaren Be Punished Tomorrow By The FIA?



The big question is will McLaren be punished tomorrow for holding onto Ferrari documents?

The following is courtesy of Reuters London. I will update as soon as the decision comes down.

Timeline of Formula One's spying controversy:

LONDON (Reuters) - McLaren will appear before Formula One's governing body on Thursday charged with unauthorized possession of Ferrari technical information.
The following is a timeline of Formula One's 'spying' controversy:

Feb 1 - Ferrari test and technical manager Nigel Stepney says he is open to offers from rival teams after expressing unhappiness at recent management changes following the departure of technical director Ross Brawn, his compatriot and friend. Stepney is subsequently moved away from the race team.

June 21 - Ferrari start court action against Stepney, which spokesman says is 'related to his behavior', in Italian city of Modena.

June 24 - Stepney accuses Ferrari of waging a dirty tricks campaign against him and protests his innocence.

July 3 - McLaren announce they have suspended a senior technical employee after confidential Ferrari information is found in a search of his home.
Newspapers identify employee as chief designer Mike Coughlan.
Ferrari says they have brought legal action against Stepney regarding the theft of technical information. Stepney is dismissed, denies wrongdoing.

July 4 - McLaren say that, after a thorough investigation, none of the leaked Ferrari information has been used on their cars and invite Formula One's governing body, the International Automobile Federation (FIA), to carry out a full review.

July 6 - Honda issue statement confirming Stepney and Coughlan had approached them looking for jobs. The team says they have not been offered any Ferrari information.

July 8 - Stepney, who denies sending information to Coughlan, tells British newspapers he has left Italy, saying he fears for his safety there after having his car followed.

July 10 - London High Court hears Coughlan "behaved disgracefully" by copying and keeping documents belonging to Ferrari.
Ferrari spokesman reveals that case centres on two computer discs believed to contain a total of 780 pages of Ferrari information.

July 11 - Coughlan provides Ferrari with an affidavit 'relating to relevant facts'. Ferrari agrees not to forward it to the Italian criminal authorities.

July 12 - FIA charge McLaren and summon representatives to an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Paris on July 26.
McLaren issue statement saying they are 'extremely disappointed'.

July 16 - In response to speculation about who knew what at the team, McLaren issue another statement to emphasize nobody at the team was aware before July 3 that Coughlan had the Ferrari information.

July 20 - McLaren submit full dossier to FIA ahead of Thursday's hearing

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