SCANDAL-hit Formula 1 again this week after Renault was summoned by motorsport chiefs to answer to charges of race fixing.

The sport has been plunged into a new cheating crisis after it was alleged recently sacked driver Nelson Piquet Jr was ordered to crash at last year's Singapore GP to help his team-mate Fernando Alonso win the race.

Revelations of the alleged underhand tactics were first reported by a Brazilian TV station during last weekends race at Spa - prompting speculation that it is a disgruntled Piquet who has blown the whistle after being axed from the team last month.

After his sacking the Brazilian racer laid into team boss Flavio Briatore branding the Italian his 'executioner'.

The 24-year-oldand also moaned on his website that he was not given equal treatment or equipment despite promises of equality.

Now the sports governing body, the FIA, has opened an investigation into the incident at the Asian night race with the Enstone-based team accused of breaching the international sporting code.

Renault - who if found guilty could be booted out of this years championship - have refused to comment until after the hearing later this month.

The FIA said: "Representatives of ING Renault F1 have been requested to appear before an extraordinary meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Paris on September 21.

"The team representatives have been called to answer charges, including a breach of Article 151c of the International Sporting Code, that the team conspired with its driver, Nelson Piquet Jr, to cause a deliberate crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix with the aim of causing the deployment of the safety car to the advantage of its other driver, Fernando Alonso."

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BEN SPIES IN YAMMY SWITCH

ROOKIE World Superbike star Ben Spies has done a double-deal with Japanese outfit Yamaha this week which will see him switch to MotoGP in 2011.

The manufacturer confirmed the 25-year-old will remain in World Superbikes next season and switch to MotoGP in the blue riband class the year after.

Spies has impressed bosses with his all action riding style this season and despite being plagued with bad-luck the American is favourite to swipe championship.

"I am very happy to say that I will remain a part of the Yamaha family and that I will continue in the WSB series for 2010. This is an exciting period of my racing career and I look forward now even more," said Spies.

"Yamaha has been great in the warm welcome that I have received entering the world arena and I want to thank them for all they have done, and for giving me their trust for a next career step into MotoGP in 2011."

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VALENTINO ROSSI LIFTS LID

DONKEY GAG - Rossi's helmet

MOTOGP funny guy Valentino Rossi showed some sportsmen do have a sense of humour after sporting a new donkey design on his lid.

The multi-winning champ unveiled the one-off helmet - which shows the face of Donkey from the Disney animated film Shrek - for this weekend's race at Misano.

Competing at his home circuit, the Italian amused fans by poking fun of himself after last week's crash during the Indy GP with the back of the helmet spelling out 'The Donkey' - mocking his usual nickname 'The Doctor'.

With just five rounds remaining Rossi and Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo are battling it for the title with just 25 points separating the pair.

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KARL HARRIS KEEPS THE FAITH

SACKED BSB rider Karl Harris believes he will be back on the grid at Croft next weekend despite not having a confirmed contract in place.

Despite currently lying fourth in the British Superbike Championship Sheffield-born Harris was sensationally sacked by Hydrex Honda boss Shaun Muir on Friday after a string of poor results - finishing only two races inside the top six since May.

Harris says he has already been in negotiations with two others squads and will be back on track with a new contract next weekend.

He said: "Obviously I am disappointed with the decision and I was in despair but I have talked to a few people and things are looking good.

"I have already been in talks with two British Superbike teams and some Supersport guys. I have a couple of meetings tomorrow but I should be back on the grid at Croft."

Team boss Muir - who has yet to announce a replacement for Harris - said: "We all really like Karl and he's a friend to every member of the team so it's been a really tough decision to make but we're at a delicate time in the season with Stuart trying to secure second place in the Championship.

"We were hoping Karl would be able to play a significant part in that but, unfortunately, he hasn't been able to get anywhere near the form he showed at the beginning of the year or what everyone knows he's capable of so we've decided to act now.

"It's never an ideal situation parting company with a rider during a season and it's been even harder with Karl being so well-liked by everyone but we need to have both bikes and riders running at the front.

"Everyone's worked really hard and given him every possible bit of support but, sadly, the results still haven't been forthcoming and it's a decision that had to be made.

"The team has made a major step forward this year regularly running in the top three in the races and in the Championship and we really wanted Karl to be doing what Stuart's done so we're sorry it hasn't worked out for him and would like to publicly wish him all the very best for the future."

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MATT HAMILTON STEPS UP

TEENAGER Matt Hamilton has been snapped up by the TH Motorsport team to race in the British Touring Car Championship later this month.

The Former Palmer Audi series youngster - who is just 19 years old - will race a second Integra-R at Rockingham in three weeks time alongside current driver John George.

Hamilton said: "I am very excited about it, although I know it is going to be a huge challenge. But I hope that I can settle in quickly.

"The plan is to use these two rounds as tests really, to get myself bedded in, and then to hopefully raise enough interest to get a budget together for a full programme next year."

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