Previously, when writing about the Ferrari/Toyota scandal, I have stressed that I had no inside information. I now am told, however, that my hunches have been on the button. I can now provide some more details.

On 30th October, German police raided the headquarters of Toyota Motorsport in Cologne and seized drawings, CD-Roms, disks and computers. They also invited former Ferrari aerodynamicist, Angelo Santini, to answer questions.

This was at the request of Fausto Casari, deputy chief prosecutor of Modena, and the man leading the investigation into alleged industrial espionage. Italy follows the French model in that investigations are headed by a judge.

On 3rd November, Modena police searched a local business and also the home of the managing director. Two people in the area have been warned that they are under investigation. According to the Italian paper. Gazzetta dello Sport, they are Mauro Iaccoca and Antonio Tentoro, and the company is Aerolab.

Aerolab appears to be a small private operation with no connection to the famous American windtunnel company of the same name. Aerolab (Modena) is not listed as a member of the local business association, though the name suggests that it specialises in aerodynamics. It undertook subcontract work for Ferrari until 1999. Santini, Iaccoca and Tentoro are former employees of Ferrari and all are associated with Aerolab. Mauro Iaccoca is employed as a consultant to Toyota Motorsport.

According to The Indianapolis Star, 7th November, Dave Richards, principal of BAR-Honda, has confirmed that individuals, whom he did not name, had approached him nearly two years ago with a proposition. In return for well-paid positions with BAR, they could supply sensitive data from another team.

Correctly, Richards, would not elaborate, but you can bet that these people were not offering secrets of the latest Minardi. If they approached BAR, did they approach anyone else? Did anyone tip off the team whose secrets were being offered?

After Santini was questioned, Toyota Motorsport issued a statement disassociating itself from Santini and claimed that the alleged espionage was the responsibility of Santini alone. According to a report in The Guardian, (UK) filed on 5th November, Santini was allowed to return to work.

One moment Santini was being branded as the sole culprit, the next moment and he was back at his desk. Does this strike you as a little odd? Iaccoca continues to be a consultant to Toyota Motorsport.

I have heard is that it was widely known within Toyota that a considerable amount of Ferrari data was in circulation in the factory. There was no doubting this since drawings bore Ferrari's logo.