Feb.29 (GMM) Italian police have contradicted reports that no useful evidence was collected in the raids on the British homes and office of senior McLaren chiefs earlier this week.

A statement issued by the authorities said the searches, believed to have involved the cooperation of up to fifty Surrey police officers, resulted in evidence from which "clearly emerges the responsibilities of the management and some technicians at a high level in McLaren".

It also emerges that the Italians took copies of a number of storage devices relating to the senior McLaren personnel, including Ron Dennis and Martin Whitmarsh, and copied computer directories and email mailboxes.

McLaren said after the raids on Wednesday that the police were "completely satisfied with the co-operation they have received.

"These actions are part of a normal judicial process in connection with the ongoing investigation, and are supported by McLaren Racing," the team added.