Mosley Intervenes to Give Ferrari Fresh Hope in Spy Row

Five days after the FIA's world motor sport council unanimously concluded that the McLaren formula one team should not be penalized for alleged industrial espionage against their world championship rivals Ferrari, the case was dramatically reopened last night by the personal intervention of Max Mosley, the FIA president.

Mosley, who is also president of the world motor sport council, has used his personal powers to permit Ferrari the opportunity to offer their interpretation of events in front of the governing body's court of appeal. Ferrari were not technically a party to last week's proceedings when the FIA summoned McLaren to explain why more than 700 confidential design documents were found at the home of their chief designer, Mike Coughlan.

Ferrari have confirmed they are launching legal proceedings in Italy against their former mechanic Nigel Stepney for the alleged "theft of technical information". The proceedings come on top of those opened against Stepney for the alleged sabotage of fuel used in Ferrari cars during trials before the Monaco grand prix, which are being considered by a Modena magistrate. Stepney denies any wrongdoing.

Ferrari are also set to pursue their civil case against Coughlan and his wife in the London high court over the alleged receipt of the Ferrari technical information.

The British grand prix, meanwhile, is likely to remain at Silverstone beyond 2009 after the approval of a £25m scheme to improve the circuit.