According to Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport, two of the three men suspected of industrial espionage, relating to stealing information from Ferrari, are facing criminal charges and will be tried.

Magistrate Fausto Casari, who is in charge of the investigation, has recommended to preliminary judge, Alberto Ziroldi, that Mauro Iacconi and Angelo Santini should be prosecuted, while charges against Antonio Tentorio should be dropped.

It's thought that it could be as long as four months before the case gets underway.

It's understood that the two men are facing four different charges, but that these all relate to a "single criminal act".

The two men are accused of accessing computers without authorization, passing on confidential information and misappropriation of files. The men could face up to eight years in jail if found guilty.

Watching the case with great interest will be Pitpass' Mike Lawrence, who wrote a number of features on the case, much of the material based on "inside knowledge".

Also watching the case with great interest will be Toyota, which previously employed Santini. The Japanese outfit has always claimed that it knew nothing of the Italian's nefarious deed, even though the TF103 appeared to be a carbon-copy of the ultra-successful F2002.