UPDATE NOV 16, 2011: Venezuela: Congressman Carlos Ramos questions Williams F1
Finally, some good news coming out of Venezuela. The local news source Noticias24 reports today that the congressional audit committee is demanding a copy of the sponsorship contract between the Frank Williams F1 team and PDVSA. I’m really pleased to hear this, as it stems from a previous undefined exchange I had with Claire Williams, head of communications and investor relations for the Williams team, regarding a copy of the contract, allegedly worth between £110 million and £154 million, signed between PDVSA and Williams.
After receiving a resounding refusal to discuss the matter from Ms. Williams, I communicated with Ramón José Medina, the international relations coordinator for the MUD, the umbrella group of the opposition unit in Venezuela, who responded that he would pass my research request on to the relevant members of Congress. It’s important to note that, according to Venezuelan legislation, the spending of public funds must be approved by Congress. As far as we know, the contract between PDVSA and Williams F1 was never approved, making it illegal.