| Formula-1 racing's governing body, the | | | | next year's competition if new evidence to the |
| International Automobile Federation, has fined the | | | | contrary emerged. |
| McLaren team a record $100 million after one of | | | | Eddie Jordan, the founder and former owner of |
| its engineers was found with data belonging to a | | | | Jordan Grand Prix, a Formula-1 car builder that |
| rival team. Tendai Maphosa has more in this | | | | operated from 1991 to 2005, said the verdict will |
| report for VOA from London. | | | | have serious ramifications for McLaren. |
| The decision in Paris Thursday is part of a saga | | | | "It is the severest penalty they could dish out," he |
| that began in July when McLaren chief designer | | | | said. "In other words, most teams would not |
| Mike Coughlan was found in possession of a | | | | survive it. I think McLaren possibly can, they have |
| 780-page dossier of Formula-1 rival Ferrari's | | | | got very well-heeled [rich] backers and sponsors. |
| technical data. The information allegedly had all the | | | | But then do sponsors want to be associated [with |
| data on the Italian team's 2007 car. | | | | McLaren]? Effectively, the FIA has come out and |
| Team McLaren will also lose this year's | | | | said we never believed you, you did take other |
| constructor points, effectively handing the title to | | | | people's information." |
| the Ferrari team. | | | | Jordan said losing the constructor championship, |
| But the developments in Paris stopped short of | | | | which McLaren was on course to win this year, |
| disqualifying the McLaren drivers, British rookie | | | | means a loss of about $70 million and this will |
| Lewis Hamilton, who is currently leading the | | | | create serious problems for McLaren. Ferrari is |
| championship standings, and Spaniard Fernando | | | | second and likely to benefit from McLaren's loss. |
| Alonso, the defending world champion. | | | | Motor racing experts say the decision not to strip |
| McLaren maintained that Coughlan was acting | | | | the McLaren drivers of their championship points |
| independently and it had not used any of the | | | | was a pragmatic move, as Hamilton is the most |
| information in the documents on the McLaren car. | | | | exciting thing to happen to Formula-1 for a long |
| Coughlan says Ferrari senior engineer Nigel | | | | time. He is the first black driver to compete in |
| Stepney passed on the documents to him. | | | | Formula-1, has already broken a number of |
| In July, McLaren was found guilty of possession of | | | | records in his rookie year and he is leading the |
| unauthorized Ferrari material. But they escaped | | | | championship race by three points, with four |
| without any punishment when the International | | | | races to go. |
| Automobile Federation's World Motor Sport Counci | | | | It is widely believed McLaren will appeal the |
| ruled they had not benefited from it. | | | | decision. |
| McLaren was warned it could be kicked out of | | | | |