03/12/2004
NEWS STORY
Following the news that two former Ferrari employees are to be tried on charges of industrial espionage, attention has now focussed firmly on Toyota.
The Public prosecutor dealing with the case, Siegmar Raupach, has told Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport that the Cologne-based outfit not only possessed data which clearly belonged to Ferrari, but had used it.
"We organised a new search at the request of Modena's district attorney in Italy," said Raupach. "Two Italian policemen, instructed by Ferrari, identified the Italian software in Toyota's current computers.
"They found a considerable amount of Ferrari's data in Toyota's wind tunnel software," he added.
Raupach then claimed that Toyota had refused to return Ferrari's data claiming that it had 'mixed' its own data with the Italian team's and was therefore concerned that the Maranello might benefit from it's research.
Toyota has dismissed the claims, issuing a statement, which states: "The actual statements that are reflected in the article contain a number of serious omissions and inaccuracies which create an entirely incorrect impression of the true facts surrounding the situation.
"As only one example we can clearly state that we have given our full co-operation to the investigating authorities at the time they visited our facilities. All requested support was given and copies of requested materials and equipment provided freely and willingly. Since this time we have received no further request for co-operation or support from the German authorities."
Of course, Pitpass' Mike Lawrence has been on the case for some time, and earlier this week reminded readers that he had been passed damaging information by insiders within the team.
Toyota was previously banned from the World Rally Championship for cheating.