The Renault F1 Team will participate as an interested party in the Court of Appeal hearing on 22 August.

On Tuesday, 22 August, the Renault F1 Team will participate in the Court of Appeal hearing that will judge the Appeal lodged by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) against decision n°8 handed down, on 28 July 2006, by the Stewards of the German Grand Prix.

Decision n° 8 referred to the legality of the mass dampers used by the team since September 2005, and by up to six other teams at different stages of the season, relative to the 2006 Formula 1 Technical Regulations. It deemed that their use "must be considered as permissible". This decision was subsequently appealed by the FIA.

The Court of Appeal will therefore convene on 22 August 2006 to judge the Appeal by the FIA against its own Stewards. Every competitor in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship has been invited to participate in the hearing.

The Renault F1 Team has accepted this invitation as an interested party in the outcome of the hearing, having pioneered the system in Formula 1 in late 2005 and integrated it from the outset in the design of its 2006 car.

"The Renault F1 Team will attend the hearing and will put forward a case," explained Executive Director of Engineering, Pat Symonds (right). "It is not appropriate to comment on the technicalities of that case at this moment. However, we have every faith in the International Court of Appeal. We believe it is an unbiased final judgement, and we will respect its decision."