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Mercedes sues Ferrari-bound F1 engineer for stealing secrets

Mercedes is suing one of its Formula One engineers, one Benjamin Hoyle, claiming he was planning to take sensitive data to a competitor. An experienced powertrain engineer, Hoyle came to Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains in 2012 with previous experience at Prodrive and Cosworth. One of four team leaders at the company, Hoyle headed up the performance application department until he notified his employers of his intention not to seek renewal of his contract that expires at the end of this year. Once they found out that Hoyle was switching to Ferrari, the higher-ups at Mercedes reassigned him to other, less sensitive duties, however Hoyle was reportedly discovered accessing race reports and other sensitive data relating to the performance of the team's engines. In response, Mercedes has filed suit against Hoyle, claiming that he "and potentially Ferrari have gained an unlawful advantage." The German automaker is seeking the return of all documents and the payment of its legal fees. It also seeks to prevent Hoyle from working for another F1 team throughout next season. Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains is the Daimler's F1 engine division. Based in Brixworth, UK, it was founded back in 1983 together with Ilmor before Mercedes bought it outright. Aside from the company's own works team, the outfit this year powered Williams, Lotus, and Force India, and previously worked with McLaren as well as Sauber. This is not the first time that a case of industrial espionage has emerged in F1. A similar controversy erupted in 2007 surrounding engineers Nigel Stepney and Mike Coughlan. The highly publicized incident became known as "Spygate" or "Stepneygate" and involved the illegal sharing of secrets between Ferrari, McLaren, and Renault. News Source: BloombergImage Credit: Martin Meissner/AP Government/Legal Hirings/Firings/Layoffs Motorsports Ferrari Mercedes-Benz F1 industrial espionage

Kimi Raikkonen moving to Ferrari?

Kimi Raikkonen, easily one of our favorite current drivers in Formula 1, may be making a move from Lotus to Ferrari, according to a Finnish tabloid called Ilta-Sanomat. Raikkonen, who won the driver's championship in 2007 with the Italian brand, is in high demand and is also rumored to have options on the table from Red Bull and his current team.
Of course, a move by Kimi to Ferrari means at least one of the Maranello-based outfit would need to find another ride. Driving ace Fernando Alonso has publicly voiced his displeasure with the Ferrari chassis, and rumors have the Spaniard considering a move to Red Bull to replace Mark Webber. Buckle up, folks, this Silly Season is shaping up to be bumpy...

Ferrari Enzo split in half in crash could sell for millions

The 2004 Ferrari Enzo you see here is quite unlike any other. You see, back in 2006, tech entrepreneur Stefan Eriksson famously sliced this Enzo in half when he hit a pole along the Pacific Coast Highway while allegedly speeding at around 160 miles per hour (as you can see in the image below). And now you can bid to own it. RM Sotheby's will auction the infamous supercar in Paris on February 3. The supercar carries an estimate of between 1.5 million and 2 million euros ($1.6 million to $2.2 million at current rates). Eriksson initially claimed that a buddy was driving when the accident happened but eventually came clean. The authorities charged Eriksson with nine offenses, including grand theft, drunk driving, embezzlement, and illegal gun possession. He was later sentenced to three years in prison. Despite the horrendous damage, Eriksson's Enzo has survived. According to RM Sotheby's auction description, the Ferrari Technical Assistance Service rebuilt the car and added satellite navigation, a Bose stereo, reverse camera, power windows, and a subtle carbon fiber rear spoiler. The team also repainted the exterior in a beautiful shade called Nero Daytona and installed a Rosso interior, which replaced the original combo of Rosso Corsa on the outside and Nero inside. The car has covered 2,500 kilometers (1,553 miles) and remained in Europe since it was rebuilt from the untimely accident. The car also comes certified by Ferrari Classiche to confirm its authenticity. The Enzo is a special vehicle even without this one's great story, representing as it does a big leap forward for modern supercars. A 6.0-liter V12 with 660 horsepower sits behind the driver, and a six-speed sequential gearbox gets the power down. We can't wait to see what this interesting example brings at auction. PARIS 3 February 2016 Lot 138 2004 Ferrari Enzo Chassis no. ZFFCZ56B000135564 Engine no. 080164 Assembly no. 52696 ˆ1.500.000 - ˆ2.000.000 To be auctioned on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 Documents: French Certificat d'Immatriculation 660 bhp, 5,998 cc DOHC 65-degree V-12 engine with Bosch Motronic engine management and electronic fuel injection, six-speed electro-hydraulic computer-controlled sequential F1 transmission, limited-slip differential and traction control, front and rear pushrod-actuated double wishbones with horizontal external reservoir coil-spring damper units, and four-wheel ventilated carbon-ceramic disc brakes.