McLaren face a second World Motor Sport Council hearing in Paris on Thursday as the F1 ’spygate’ row over possession of Ferrari technical data rumbles on.

At a July hearing, the team were found guilty of fraudulent conduct by the FIA council but were not punished because of insufficient evidence.

But the emergence of new evidence means McLaren must again defend themselves.

If the WMSC decides to punish them, McLaren could lose points or even be thrown out of the championship.

First, the WMSC will examine the new evidence to consider again if McLaren benefited from the 780-page dossier of Ferrari information.

The latest evidence reportedly centres around an e-mail exchange between Fernando Alonso and McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa.

But at last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, Alonso said: “This is a lie.”

Whatever the nature of the new evidence, Ferrari team boss Jean Todt is confident that it will result in McLaren being punished.

“We didn’t accept the initial decision, and we found proof the decision was not appropriate,” he said.

“If you see the wording of the decision - in case of new evidence things will be different - we will be able to produce new evidence.”

The threat of being expelled from this year’s championship hangs over McLaren, with the possibility of also being excluded in 2008.

Less severe punishment could see the championship leaders stripped of some or all of their constructors’ points.

And that could have ramifications for drivers Lewis Hamilton and Alonso, who top the drivers’ standings.

Hamilton, who leads Alonso by three points, said at Monza: “I could have what I’ve worked for, and what all the team have worked for, taken away.”

McLaren boss Ron Dennis is remaining circumspect ahead of the hearing, but is concerned about the potential damage to F1’s image.

“Sometimes I get a bit confused by things in life, and this one’s pretty confusing,” said Dennis.

“It’s a shame that this should be a distraction from what has been a great season.”

The spy row broke in July when a dossier of Ferrari data was found at the home of McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan, who has since been suspended.

Ferrari believe Coughlan received the documents from their former performance director Nigel Stepney.

Criminal proceedings are active against Stepney, who was sacked by Ferrari in July. He has protested his innocence.

McLaren have also been told that they are under investigation by Italian prosecutors and were visited by officials in the Monza paddock.

Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Popularity: 21% [?]