(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-12-06 14:41

LONDON - Fernando Alonso's future could become clearer on Thursday after former champions Renault appear before Formula One's governing body in the latest spying controversy to grip the sport.

The French team, charged with unauthorised possession of McLaren technical information between September 2006 and October this year, are keen to secure the Spaniard's services for next season.

However Alonso, who won two titles with Renault before an ill-fated year with McLaren, has appeared reluctant to agree anything while the threat of sanctions hangs over his former employers.

If Renault are cleared at the World Motor Sport Council hearing in Monaco, that could pave the way for Alonso's return. A heavy punishment for the former champions is likely to send him elsewhere.

Renault said their cars were untainted by information brought to them by former McLaren employee Phil Mackereth, who has since been suspended.

However McLaren, who were fined $100 million and stripped of their constructors' points in an earlier saga over leaked Ferrari data believe Renault, the 2005 and 2006 champions with Alonso, gained an unfair advantage.