Renault charged with having McLaren data

Former champions Renault have been summoned to appear before Formula One's governing body on a charge of having McLaren technical information in their possession, the sport's governing body said.

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said Renault were accused of being in unauthorised possession of documents and confidential information belonging to McLaren between September 2006 and last month.

It said the information included the layout and critical dimensions of the McLaren car as well as details of McLaren's fuelling system, gear assembly, hydraulic control system and suspension.

The hearing will be in Monaco on Dec 6.

The announcement threatened the sport with a second major spying controversy after McLaren were themselves found to have a dossier of Ferrari technical information in their possession earlier in the season.

The Mercedes-powered team were stripped of all their constructors' points and fined $100 million after two hearings by the governing body.

The charge faced by Renault, who were constructors' champions last year and in 2005 but failed to win a race this season, was the same faced by McLaren earlier in the year.