OCTOBER 31, 2003

European Union clearance finally through

The European Commission has finally lumbered to a conclusion on its investigation of the relationship between the FIA and the Formula One group of companies and everyone has been given the all clear.

The European Commission in Brussels is not quite as fast and flexible as Formula 1 but it has finally lumbered to a conclusion on its investigation of the relationship between the FIA and the Formula One group of companies and everyone has been given the all clear - something that has been unofficial for a long time.

The competition directorate dropped the investigation into F1 in 2001 after the FIA agreed to ease its regulations and give up any commercial involvement in the sport.

"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," the commission said in a statement.