MONZA, Italy, Sept 7, 2007 (AFP) - Motor sport´s ruling body, the International Motoring Federation (FIA), on Friday responded to the escalating speculation and controversy surrounding the Formula One ´spy story´ scandal.

In a statement issued at the Monza circuit north of Milan, the FIA said it had acted in the interests of complete transparency in deciding to publish the text of a letter from the president Max Mosley sent to Fernando Alonso, Pedro de la Rosa and Lewis Hamilton on Friday, August 31.

The statement made clear also that the drivers were given no doubt about the severity of their position. "It should be clear from the contents of the letter that the three McLaren drivers were required to cooperate fully with the FIA in the completion of its investigation," it said.

It was not made clear how the FIA was made aware of the various e-mail exchanges between drivers that led to this action - nor was it made clear what the likely charges and punishments may be if any of them were found guilty of withholding evidence.

The letter said: "You will appreciate that there is a duty on all competitors and Super Licence holders to ensure the fairness and legitimacy of the Formula One World Championship. It is therefore imperative that if you do have any such information, you make it available to us without delay.

"I can confirm, given the importance of this issue, that any information you may make available in response to this letter will not result in any proceedings against you under the International Sporting Code or the Formula One regulations.

However, in the event that it later comes to light that you have withheld any potentially relevant information, serious consequences could follow."

It is believed that De la Rosa and Alonso responded to the FIA´s request for information earlier this week, providing the evidence that resulted in next week´s appeal by McLaren being cancelled and replaced by another meeting of the FIA´s World Motor Sport Council in Paris on Thursday, September 13.

Hamilton has not commented, but it is understood he knew nothing of any of the e-mail exchanges.

The FIA president wrote also to the 11 teams advising them of the new evidence that had come to light in the ´spy story´ investigation and pointing out their need to help the federation with their inquiries.

The ´spy story´ has revolved around revelations that have followed since it was claimed that rogue Ferrari mechanic Englishman Nigel Stepney, since dismissed by the Italian team, gave a dossier of technical information about the Ferrari racing team to McLaren´s chief designer Mike Coughlan.

Coughlan has been suspended by McLaren who have denied vehemently taking advantage of any of the data and information in the 780-pages dossier, but it has been reported that Coughlan supplied set-up and tyres information from the dossier to test driver De la Rosa who, in turn, sent it to Alonso.

It was after receiving Mosley´s letter that Alonso reported his e-mail exchanges with fellow-Spaniard De la Rosa to the FIA, though this has not yet been confirmed by the defending double drivers world champion.

Alonso is five points behind 22-year-old British rookie Hamilton in this year´s drivers championship.

The McLaren team issued a statement on Friday afternoon in which they said that the team and no drivers would make no comment.

"We intend to make a strong set of submissions" at the council meeting on Thursday next week, said McLaren. And, "this is the appropriate forum for the matter to be discussed."