European Union Ends F1 Investigation

[Edmonton]

The European Competition Commission has formally given the motorsport's governing body, the FIA, and Formula 1's promoters the all-clear after a two-year investigation into the sport.

The EU has been searching for potential conflicts of interest since 2001, when FIA President Max Mosley agreed to change arrangements over its role as regulator of international motorsport to end any commercial involvement.

The FIA loosened its ties with the Formula 1 Association in 2001, and Bernie Ecclestone resigned his position as its vice-president of promotions, thus freeing up television broadcasting rights. It also strengthened the rights of organizers, circuit owners and participants and pledged to act impartially between all forms of motorsports.

"The Commission is satisfied that the conflict of interests identified in the FIA regulations and the restrictions that had been put on circuit owners, F1 teams and TV broadcasters have been ended," said a statement from an EU regulator.

The statement ends the official portion of the long-running feud between the EU and the FIA, which also has flared over the issue of tobacco sponsorships.

[gttouring]

interesting- what would've happened otherwise?
and no monopoly in the EU was brought up?
hmm
Why is F1 so dramatic behind the scenes much more so than ay other sport to be sure, NASCAR creeping up behind slowy though (no pun intended)

[DriverT]

They could have hardly found the FIA in conflict of interest, otherwise F1 would be dead. That's the case. The whole F1 operation would have moved out of the EU, costs rocketed and teams left.

[Armco Bender]

They've been trying to shake out F1 for years,going right back to Colin Chapman and the GPDA days,they never find anything though because the monies well hid.