McLaren Fined in Formula-1 Scandal

Formula-1 racing's governing body, thenext year's competition if new evidence to the
International Automobile Federation, has fined thecontrary emerged.
McLaren team a record $100 million after one ofEddie Jordan, the founder and former owner of
its engineers was found with data belonging to aJordan Grand Prix, a Formula-1 car builder that
rival team. Tendai Maphosa has more in thisoperated 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 designersaid. "In other words, most teams would not
Mike Coughlan was found in possession of asurvive it. I think McLaren possibly can, they have
780-page dossier of Formula-1 rival Ferrari'sgot very well-heeled [rich] backers and sponsors.
technical data. The information allegedly had all theBut 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'ssaid we never believed you, you did take other
constructor points, effectively handing the title topeople's information."
the Ferrari team.Jordan said losing the constructor championship,
But the developments in Paris stopped short ofwhich McLaren was on course to win this year,
disqualifying the McLaren drivers, British rookiemeans a loss of about $70 million and this will
Lewis Hamilton, who is currently leading thecreate serious problems for McLaren. Ferrari is
championship standings, and Spaniard Fernandosecond 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 actingthe McLaren drivers of their championship points
independently and it had not used any of thewas 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 Nigeltime. 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 ofrecords in his rookie year and he is leading the
unauthorized Ferrari material. But they escapedchampionship race by three points, with four
without any punishment when the Internationalraces to go.
Automobile Federation's World Motor Sport CounciIt is widely believed McLaren will appeal the
ruled they had not benefited from it.decision.
McLaren was warned it could be kicked out of