wmsc-slaps-lifetime-ban-on-flavio-briatore

TopSpeed

By Kirby Garlitos

Published Sep 21, 2009

The verdict is out and as can be expected, the World Motor Sport Council wasted little time in banishing deposed Renault Managing Director, Flavio Briatore. For masterminding the ‘Crash-gate of 2008’, the WMSC banned Briatore indefinitely from the sport, meaning that we probably have seen the last of the stout Italian in any racing league of any format in the world. In addition to his indefinite ban, the WMSC also noted that anyone who does business with Briatore from now on will not be issued a superlicense, which if you’re curious to know is the license needed to participate in Formula One Meanwhile, the other implicated individual in ‘Crash-gate’, Pat Symonds – the ex-Renault executive director of engineering – received a ‘shorter’ 5-year ban, thanks in large part to his admittance that he did play a part in the race-fix of Singapore. In a world where sketchy characters seem to be the rule rather than the exception, we still find it unfathomable how Flav

Excerpts from WMSC verdict:

"As regards Mr. Briatore, the World Motor Sport Council declares that, for an unlimited period, the FIA does not intend to sanction any International Event, Championship, Cup, Trophy, Challenge or Series involving Mr. Briatore in any capacity whatsoever, or grant any license to any Team or other entity engaging Mr. Briatore in any capacity whatsoever. It also hereby instructs all officials present at FIA-sanctioned events not to permit Mr. Briatore access to any areas under the FIA’s jurisdiction.

"Furthermore, it does not intend to renew any Superlicence granted to any driver who is associated (through a management contract or otherwise) with Mr. Briatore, or any entity or individual associated with Mr. Briatore. In determining that such instructions should be applicable for an unlimited period, the World Motor Sport Council has had regard not only to the severity of the breach in which Mr. Briatore was complicit but also to his actions in continuing to deny his participation in the breach despite all the evidence."