From GMM

Flavio Briatore has won his bid to overturn a lifetime ban from motor racing over the 'crashgate' affair, the Reuters and Associated Press wire services are reporting on Tuesday afternoon.

The former Renault boss' similarly ousted engineering director Pat Symonds was also expelled from Formula 1 by the FIA, for a lesser period of five years, after the race-fixing scandal emerged last year.

Briatore, backed in his French legal bid by Symonds, challenged the governing body's decision in Paris' Tribunal de Grande Instance in November, including a push for a million euros in damages.

As reported by the Evening Standard Formula 1's governing body will "probably" appeal the decision.

"The court has decided that the punishment was illegal," the judge said, ordering the FIA to pay 15,000 euros in compensation to 59-year-old Briatore, and 5,000 euros to Symonds.

The court added that the outcome of the World Motor Sport Council held in September was "irregular", and gave the FIA 15 days to pay the compensation to avoid 10,000 euro per day fines.

It said the FIA's evidence was weak, and that lawyers were unable to question witnesses because their identity was withheld.

None of the parties have yet made official comment.






Photo Credit : Renault