White powder substance properties revealed 3 or 4 August

Report on Autosport says 3 or 4 August the analysis of the "white substance" will be revealed.

The investigators looking into Nigel Stepney's activities at Ferrari are not expecting to reveal full details of what the mysterious white powder at the centre of the controversy is until the start of next month.

Although much of the focus on the espionage side of things has focused on McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan this week, the Italian investigation into the sabotage claims that kick-started the whole affair is still progressing.

But Modena district attorney Giuseppe Tibis has said he expects tests on the white powder, discovered on Ferrari's cars prior to the Monaco Grand Prix, only to be concluded in the next few weeks.

"As far as I know it's not calcium phosphate, not at all," Tibis was quoted as saying by Gazzetta dello Sport. "On August 3 or 4 everything will be revealed: the substance, its concentration and its effects."

Tibis added that should Stepney's actions warrant a court case, court hearings would not begin until the end of this year.

"The possible first hearing?" he said. "If everything fits, as I think, we'll be able to be ready by the end of the year at most."

Correspondence that was confiscated from Stepney's house was opened by officials yesterday, although it appears that the paperwork produced nothing out of the ordinary.

Barbara Pini, a lawyer assisting Stepney, said: "There were five envelopes: bills, bank balances, receipts. There was the payment - and therefore the proof - of the journey to the Philippines.

"What was lacking was the letter of his sacking by Ferrari, which was what we were most interested in. Maybe it's still at the post office."


Carol