Business F1 magazine editor Tom Rubython must pay damages in one
libel case and is facing another after publishing a string of
accusations against two prominent motorsport figures.
Alan
Donnelly, official representative of the president of motorsport body
the FIA at Formula One Grand Prix, will receive £8,500 plus legal costs
from Rubython following a story which falsely alleged he had diverted
some of his €11m fees from the FIA for personal use when they should
have gone to his company, Sovereign.
Donnelly, who was leader of
the Labour Party in the European Parliament from 1998 to 2000 and is
founder of business consultancy Sovereign Strategy, has also received
an apology from the magazine for the story, which was originally
published in January.
Meanwhile, F1 manager Willi Weber, who
manages Michael and Ralf Schumacher, has issued a High Court writ
against Rubython and Business F1 after an article in the March issue
alleged he had been involved in criminal activities including
prostitution and drug running.
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He is demanding damages of up to
£100,000 for the piece, which he says is untrue, has severely damaged
his personal and professional reputations and caused him hurt, distress
and embarrassment.
Rubython did not respond to Press Gazette’s request for comment.
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