McLaren case destined for the Court of Appeal

FORMULA ONE’S governing body, the FIA, have sent the spying case involving McLaren and Ferrari to the Court of Appeal.

McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan had come to be in possession of confidential Ferrari documents earlier in the year.

But last week, McLaren escaped a penalty after the World Motorsport Council (WMSC) ruled there was insufficient evidence that it had affected this year’s title race.

FIA president Max Mosley’s decision to refer the case to the Court of Appeal comes in response to a letter critical of the WMSC decision from Italy’s automobile federation president Luigi Macaluso.

However McLaren are confident they will again avoid punishment.

A statement read: “Following a thoroughly misleading press campaign by Ferrari and pressure from the Automobile Club D’ Italia, the FIA has asked the FIA International Court of Appeal to consider the unanimous decision made by the World Motor Sport Council on July 26, 2007.

“McLaren is not aware of any new information or arguments that have arisen since the meeting of the World Motor Sport Council.

“Whilst this is both disappointing and time-consuming, McLaren is confident that the FIA International Court of Appeal will exonerate McLaren.”