NASCAR team Michael Waltrip Racing has filed a lawsuit against former-employee Mike Coughlan and the Williams F1 team citing a breach of contract and interference.
Coughlan was recently announced as Williams new chief engineer, marking his return to Formula 1 after a three-year absence following on from his involvement in the McLaren/Ferrari spy-scandal of 2007.
He later joined NASCAR team MWR as director of vehicle design in 2010 but terminated the contract early after securing the position at Williams.
MWR claims this early termination broke his contract with the team. They are claiming ‘substantial damages’ from Coughlan and Williams as per the below lawsuit extract.
“As a result of Coughlan’s premature departure, MWR will face and incur many certain and substantial damages, including the costs of searching for, recruiting, negotiating with, hiring and training a replacement for Coughlan, not to mention the expenses MWR devoted to Coughlan’s employment, the benefits of which will go unrealised.”
