Motor racing has been a forgiving community. It has known just about every sort of criminal and not minded after they have served their time. Robin Herd once told me that criminals were good people to deal with, it was as though they wanted some part of their life to be straight. The first March Indycar was commissioned by one of the three Whittington brothers who, subsequently, all served time for dope dealing. The car was paid for, up front, with drug cash.

March lost its IMSA market when the DEA raised its game.

Roy James, transport manager on the Great Train Robbery, bought his Brabham BT6 FJ car with cash, his slice of the 1962 Heathrow wages snatch. When he attempted to return to racing after 12 years inside, the reaction was to watch his progress with interest; it was not, 'Keep criminals out of the sport.'

Someone spent big money to entrap Max, he was brought 'unawares into a position of difficulty or danger.' There are unsubstantiated stories in the ether about the size of the operation and the sums involved. Max has made enemies, as all politicians do, and some of them could have had him entrapped from their petty cash, my lottery win.

The issue is not about Mosley's bum, it has become more important than that, and more important than who heads the FIA. Since the (British) Human Rights Act is based on EU law and there is a European Court of Justice, a ruling for Max in this case could have wide ramifications. Forget the smut and the sniggers, look at the big picture.

Mike Lawrence
mike@pitpass.com

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