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FERRARI

Stepney given the chance to clear his name

Saturday 16th February 2008

Former Ferrari mechanic Nigel Stepney is set to meet with the FIA to give his version of events leading up to last year's Stepneygate spy scandal, according to his solicitors.

Stepney, who was sacked by Ferrari in July last year as the spy scandal made the headlines in F1 and world news, has yet to explain his side of the story to the FIA.

He was expected to meet with motorsport's governing body earlier this month, however, that meeting was cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.

Stepney will now have to wait until March to give his version of the events, after which the FIA are expected to rule on whether or not the former Ferrari man should be punished.

According to some reports, the punishment could involve a permanent ban from international motorsport.

But despite the threat hanging over his head, Stepney's solicitors Coyle White Devine claim the Brit is eager to meet with the FIA and to clear his name.

"Despite having to endure months of unfounded allegations, Mr Stepney has maintained a dignified silence, secure in the knowledge that he would, one day, be able to explain his position and offer a perspective based on more than 30 years as a Formula One 'insider'," said the statement.

"He was ready to do this at the FIA disciplinary hearing scheduled for Thursday 7th February in London.

"Unfortunately, the FIA's legal team was unable to attend this hearing, citing 'flight difficulties' in Geneva as a reason. The hearing will now take place at some stage after 7th March 2008.

"Mr Stepney is very much looking forward to this postponed opportunity to put his side of the story in a legal environment, rather than continue to endure ill-informed allegations against him."

Last season McLaren were hit with a record $100m fine and stripped of their 2007 Constructors' Championship points after the FIA concluded that Stepney had passed on confidential Ferrari technical information to McLaren's suspended chief designer Mike Coughlan.

Autosport reports that Coughlan has already been punished by the FIA for his role in the spy scandal, although it is not yet know what the punishment is.

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