Italian magistrates put McLaren under investigation

MONZA, Italy, Sep 9 (Reuters) Italian magistrates have told Formula One leaders McLaren they are under investigation as part of enquiries into the leak of a 780-page technical dossier from rivals Ferrari.

''The team was informed yesterday evening by Modena magistrates that they are involved in an ongoing investigation,'' a team spokeswoman said at the Italian Grand Prix.

Italian media said team boss Ron Dennis was one of seven people due to receive an ''avviso di garanzia'' from the prosecutor in Modena, a legal notification that the person is suspected of a crime and is being investigated.

However, it may not necessarily lead to a charge.

The ANSA news agency said the others under investigation were former Ferrari engineer Nigel Stepney, suspended McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan, chief executive Martin Whitmarsh and senior McLaren employees Paddy Lowe, Jonathan Neal and Rob Taylor.

McLaren suspended Coughlan in July after the Ferrari technical information was found in a search of his home in England.

Ferrari suspect the information was sent to him by now-dismissed Stepney, although the Briton has denied the accusation.

McLaren are 11 points ahead of Ferrari in the constructors' standings. The team's 22-year-old British rookie Lewis Hamilton leads double world champion team mate Fernando Alonso by five points in the drivers's title battle.

Reuters TB RN0459