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McLaren chiefs summoned to Italy

Feb.7 (GMM) Leading figures of the British formula one team McLaren have been summoned for questioning by Italian prosecutors, as the criminal espionage investigation involving Ferrari continues.

Even though F1's governing body has drawn a line under the affair from a sporting point of view, the Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that magistrate Guiseppe Tibis wants to speak with Ron Dennis, Martin Whitmarsh and two other senior members of the Woking based team, on February 18.

Tibis reportedly wants to also speak with two more leading team members but did not have their home addresses in England.

To the British news agency Reuters, McLaren confirmed that their lawyers have "received some papers from the Modena authorities which are currently being reviewed".

Tibis interviewed drivers Fernando Alonso and Pedro de la Rosa late last year.

At Monza for the Italian grand prix last September, police served Dennis and his deputies with 'avviso di garanzias' - formal notices of pending prosecutions - for alleged crimes including sporting fraud, espionage and embezzlement.

Written: Thu, 07 Feb 2008 14:43:49