From GMM

The governing body of Formula 1 has charged team Renault with conspiring with Nelson Piquet (photo) to crash deliberately at the 2008 Singapore grand prix.

Following a tip-off that came to light around the time of last weekend's Belgian GP, the FIA interviewed team members at Spa-Francorchamps and has been carrying out a further investigation in recent days.

Now, representatives of the Enstone based outfit "have been requested to appear before an extraordinary meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Paris" on 21 September, a statement on Friday confirmed.

The FIA accuses the French team of conspiring with Piquet, ousted by boss and manager Flavio Briatore recently, "to cause a deliberate crash ... with the aim of causing the deployment of the safety car to the advantage of its other driver, Fernando Alonso".

The World Council will decide whether Renault breached Article 151c of the International Sporting Code which relates to "fraudulent conduct" that is against "the interests of motor sport".

Penalties can range from fines to total expulsion from F1.







Photo Credit : Renault