Renault to appear before WSMC over charges of Race Fixing
Renault have been called before the World Motorsport council over the charges of race fixing.
At last year’s Singapore Grand Prix Alonso had a terrible qualifying starting the race in 15th place, a position that prior to this race no one has ever won from. He started the race strongly moving forwards a few places but the leaders had got away. He came in early for a pit stop and just two laps later Nelson Piquet crashed causing the safety car to come out.
Many drivers were short on fuel and were forced to either pit when the pitlane was closed or pit soon after it opened which lead to Alonso who had already pitted taking the lead and going on to win the race.
Now evidence has come to light that Renualt ordered Piquet to crash causing the Safety car to come out to Alonso’s advantage. They have been called before the World Motorsport Council on Monday, 21 September 2009.
FIA Press Release
The FIA press release reads
Representatives of ING Renault F1 have been requested to appear before an extraordinary meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Paris on Monday, 21 September 2009.
The team representatives have been called to answer charges, including a breach of Article 151c of the International Sporting Code, that the team conspired with its driver, Nelson Piquet Jr, to cause a deliberate crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix with the aim of causing the deployment of the safety car to the advantage of its other driver, Fernando Alonso.
Renault Response
The Renault team have not commented on the charges, simply stating
The ING Renault F1 Team acknowledges the FIA’s request for representatives of the team to appear before the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Paris on the 21st of September 2009. Before attending the hearing, the team will not make any further comment.
Bernie Ecclestone’s view
Bernie Ecclestone was quoted in the Times saying this may force Renault to quit Formula One
“This is not the sort of thing we need at the moment,” said Ecclestone, who has seen Honda sell up last year and BMW announce that it is leaving Formula One at the end of this season. “I think it will p*** off Renault for a start. Them leaving the sport is a danger, obviously. I mean, I hope that it isn’t like that, but it’s the sort of thing that might happen.”
