Ferrari Stay Silent on Espionage Investigation

Ferrari will make no comment on the Italian police investigation into suspicions of espionage against the Formula One team until this investigation is over, a Ferrari spokesman said today.

The Italian authorities began investigation several weeks ago, following a complaint from Ferrari who suspect that confidential information was leaked or transferred over to the team's rivals.

Modena's assistant district attorney Manfredi Luongo has appointed Magistrate Fausto Casari as head of the investigation, and detectives have already searched the offices and residency of three ex-Ferrari employees, one of whom now works for Toyota's Formula One team.

Antonio Tentorio, one of the three former Ferrari employees whose house was searched last week, told Italian reporters the search did not unravel any evidence against him. The Italian, who worked with Ferrari as designer of mechanical components, said that "the searches at my place have not produced any results. Nevertheless, through my lawyer, I have asked Magistrate Casari to be questioned in order to clarify my position."

"Ferrari has no intention of making any comment prior to the end of the investigation," a team spokesman told the press. "We have the utmost confidence in the work being carried out by the Magistrates, also with respect to the defence of Ferrari's own rights."