Renault on Thursday escaped punishment in the latest spying row to rock Formula One.
The sport’s governing body, the FIA, found the French team to be in breach of regulations when they were accused of being in possession of technical data of rivals McLaren.
”The World Motor Sport Council found Renault F1 to be in breach of article 151C of the International Sporting Code, but imposed no penalty,” said a FIA statement.
”Detailed reasons for this decision will be issued on December 7 and a transcript of the proceedings will be published as soon as possible thereafter.”
The decision could clear the way for former world champion driver Fernando Alonso to return to the team with whom he won two titles before his ill-starred switch to McLaren in 2007.
Renault Formula One chief Flavio Briatore said he was delighted with the decision not to punish his team.
”I would like to thank Renault, our title sponsor ING and all our partners for their wholehearted support during this sensitive period,” he said in a statement.
”I also wish to pay tribute to the team, which has handled the matter with integrity and dignity. We are pleased that we can now focus fully on our preparations for the 2008 championship.”
Renault had vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
They had been accused of receiving information that included the layout and critical dimensions of the McLaren car.
McLaren were fined £47,5-million and kicked out of the constructors’ championship after being found guilty on a similar charge in September.
But the French team denied confidential data brought to the team by a former McLaren engineer was used in their 2007 F1 car.
Renault, who won the drivers’ and constructors’ titles in 2005 and 2006, insisted they had nothing to hide and revealed that engineer Phil Mackereth was suspended on September 6.
They admitted the information was brought to the team by Mackereth, who loaded it onto their F1 file system ”without the knowledge of anyone in authority in the team”.
Renault said they immediately informed McLaren of the situation and then notified the FIA.
Renault finished third in the constructors’ championship behind Ferrari and BMW Sauber last season. — Sapa-AFP