McLaren 'spy gate' one step closer to being closed
The infamous 'spy gate' that began during the 2007 season is now one step closer to being closed for good, with a court hearing in Modena, Italy, dropping charges against the McLaren employees. The employees involved being McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan and senior employees Paddy Lowe, Jonathan Neale and Rob Taylor.
A spokesperson for McLaren said: "The proceedings in Italy were merely the officialising of what had been proposed long before, namely the 'nolo contendere' [no contest] agreement. A line has finally been drawn under this matter."
In exchange for not contesting the copyright infringement charges pressed upon them, Coughlan will have to pay €180,000, and Lowe, Neale, and Taylor paying €150,000 each.
