http://sport.guardian.co.uk/motorsport/story/0,,2127991,00.html
By Alan Henry
July 17, 2007
The Guardian
The McLaren team hit back in the formula one spy scandal yesterday,
denying that confidential Ferrari documents found in the chief
designer's Mike Coughlan's house were handled by any other member of
their staff, and insisted that no team member knew about their existence
before legal action began a fortnight ago.
Weekend reports in the Italian press claimed that Coughlan had stated
that he had confided in several staff members that he had the documents.
He reportedly made these allegations in a confidential affidavit, copies
of which are now in the possession of Ferrari and the FIA, motorsport's
governing body.
This followed suggestions from Ferrari's high court application last
week that McLaren's managing director, Jonathan Neale, had also been
made aware of the documents - although it was not known when and how he
had found out. McLaren yesterday dismissed those suggestions, and
reiterated their belief that Coughlan acted alone in having the
documents.
"McLaren is concerned that erroneous speculation has arisen from
inaccurate and misleading reference to the contents of confidential
legal papers filed at court in response to Ferrari's UK action to
recover its intellectual property," said their statement. "This is
unfortunate and is prejudicial to a fair interpretation of these
matters."
McLaren say that no Ferrari materials or data are, or ever have been, in
the possession of any McLaren employee other than the individual sued by
Ferrari. "The fact that he held at his home unsolicited materials from
Ferrari was not known to any other member of the team prior to the 3rd
July 2007," the statement added. "McLaren has categorically established
that no Ferrari information has at any stage been used to develop its
car."
Received on Wed Jul 18 00:30:13 2007