Renault face FIA race-fixing probe

The allegation surrounds last season's Singapore Grand Prix when Fernando Alonso won the race, aided by a crash from then team-mate Nelson Piquet Jnr.

If found guilty, the team face severe sanctions which could result in them being excluded from the current Formula One world championship.

A statement from the FIA read: "Representatives of ING Renault F1 have been requested to appear before an extraordinary meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Paris on Monday, 21 September, 2009.

"The team representatives have been called to answer charges, including a breach of Article 151c of the International Sporting Code, that the team conspired with its driver, Nelson Piquet Jr, to cause a deliberate crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix with the aim of causing the deployment of the safety car to the advantage of its other driver, Fernando Alonso."

Initially, Alonso appeared somewhat fortuitous in taking the chequered flag as the double world champion had started from 15th on the grid at the sport's latest addition to the calendar.

Intriguingly, Renault had opted to fuel Alonso short for his first stint, a bizarre tactic when starting so far down and on a typical street track where it is notoriously difficult to pass. Renault gambled on there being a safety car incident, and just two laps after Alonso made his first pit stop on lap 12, Piquet's crash turned the race on its head.

The Brazilian's moment into a wall also took place on a part of the circuit where there was no crane to hand, otherwise the field might slowly have filed past under waved yellow flags whilst it was recovered. But with the crane on track, it necessitated the safety car, resulting in the pitlane being immediately closed.

When it eventually re-opened, virtually the entire field dived into the pits, culminating in Alonso emerging in fifth place. Of those ahead of him, Jarno Trulli and Giancarlo Fisichella pitted later, whilst Nico Rosberg and Robert Kubica were penalised as they had been forced to stop when the pitlane was closed.

Alonso then inherited a lead on lap 34 he cemented with victory, Renault's first for two years, and at a time when it was strongly rumoured they were considering quitting the sport.