5.2. Mr. Bob Bell, Technical Director of Renault, carried out a preliminary investigation on 6 September 2007, the results of which were sent by Renault to McLaren and the FIA on 7 September 2007. Over the next two weeks, some 20 engineers were interviewed by Mr. Bell, leading to 14 witness statements. In addition an internal IT search was conducted.
5.3. Renault kept both McLaren and the FIA regularly informed of the progress of its investigation. This has resulted in extensive correspondence between
McLaren's lawyers and Renault's lawyers. This correspondence has been put before the WMSC and shows McLaren's lawyers extensively questioning and testing the evidence disclosed by Renault's lawyers to them and to the
FIA.
5.4. Independent IT experts (Kroll OnTrack) were appointed by McLaren and, with Renault's agreement, were given wide-ranging access to Renault's IT systems and have conducted in depth analysis of IT equipment used by Mackereth in particular.
5.5. With Mackereth's agreement, McLaren's IT experts have also searched Mackereth's home computer for confidential McLaren information.
5.6. When McLaren raised questions about the information provided by Renault, Renault and its lawyers responded in writing and in a timely manner, by providing further information or clarifications, and in some cases conducting further interviews and providing additional witness statements.
5.7. In addition, Renault agreed to submit to an investigation by the FIA technical department to establish whether there is any evidence that Renault's 2007 or 2008 cars incorporate any McLaren confidential information. This involved FIA technical personnel:
5.7.1. reviewing the McLaren confidential information that was taken to Renault by Mackereth;
5.7.2. reviewing confidential information about the development of Renault's
F1 cars from 2005 to 2008; and
5.7.3. carrying out inspections at Renault's F1 headquarters where Mackereth worked.
5.8. The resulting report has been taken into account by the WMSC.
5.9. Renault has removed the McLaren confidential information from its IT system. However, Renault's IT system is backed up to tape nightly and a monthly back-up tape is retained permanently. It is not possible to delete data selectively from these back-up tapes and it is therefore estimated that around 28 back-up tapes remain that may contain copies of the McLaren confidential information brought by Mackereth to
Renault.
