AGCM

PRESS RELEASE

MOTOR RACING: ANTITRUST AUTHORITY LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION INTO ACI OVER ALLEGED RESTRICTIONS ON COMPETITION

It must be determined whether ACI - Automobile Club d’Italia - limited or prevented the activities of new associations or other parties operating in the motor racing industry.            

The Italian Competition Authority, at its meeting on 22 November 2007, decided to open an investigation into ACI - Automobile Club d’Italia - over possible anti-competitive restrictions in motor racing.

The investigation follows a number of complaints received from Gargano Corse, FIAS and Salerno Corse claiming that the rules for access to and exercise of business activities in the motor racing industry and the effective application of those rules lead to discrimination against competing motor sports companies and associations, in some cases causing their exclusion from such activities.

According to the complainants, furthermore, ACI makes improper use of the monopoly granted to it as the official motor racing federation by reserving business activities for itself and extending to its own subsidiaries advantages and exclusive rights such as image and television rights for motor sports, and the organization and promotion of motor races.

The investigation, which is to be concluded by 15 November 2008, must determine whether ACI's decisions and regulations represent anti-competitive arrangements intended to favour the activities of the  Provincial Automobile Clubs in the organization of motor sport events by limiting access to the market by both new operators and a number of those already present. The investigation must also determine whether ACI's conduct, in reserving business activities and control of all motor sport for itself, constitute an abuse of the dominant position ACI enjoys as a result of its “institutional” role as the only motor sport federation recognized by the national sporting regulations.

Rome, 7 December 2007