Liegate’s Dave Ryan returns to racing

Sacked ’liegate’ conspirator Dave Ryan has re-emerged in the world of motor sport - with a McLaren.

In 2009, the British formula one team sacked its long-time sporting director for lying during a stewards enquiry involving Lewis Hamilton in Melbourne.

Last weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, New Zealander Ryan was back on the pitwall as owner of the Von Ryan Racing team, fielding a McLaren MP4-12C supercar.

He told the NZ Herald that he decided to call his team Von Ryan because of a nickname he earned at McLaren in the mid 70s, based on the film Von Ryan’s Express.

Ryan said he has moved on since the liegate scandal and his sacking.

"People who carry grudges are akin to having a ball and chain around their ankle holding them back from getting on with their lives," he said.

"I get on with all the McLaren people and what happened, happened. It’s history now."