Motorsport boss Bernie Ecclestone revealed his "influence" by calling bank chief Sir Fred Goodwin during negotiations about the sale of the business group which owns commercial rights to Formula 1 racing, a High Court judge heard today.
A businessman said he mentioned the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) as a possible lender during discussions with Mr Ecclestone eight years ago
Donald Mackenzie told how Mr Ecclestone - chief executive of the Formula 1 Group - said he "knew RBS" and called Sir Fred, then the RBS chief executive.
He told judge Mr Justice Newey - at a High Court trial in London - how the call revealed "Bernie's influence in the world".
Sir Fred was stripped of his knighthood in January 2012 after being criticised over his role in the near collapse of RBS. The award was ''cancelled and annulled'' by the Queen following Whitehall advice.
Mr Ecclestone has been accused of making a ''corrupt bargain'' with a banker in a bid to stay at the top of Formula 1.
A German media company says he entered into a ''corrupt agreement'' with Gerhard Gribkowsky. Constantin Medien says Mr Ecclestone made the deal eight years ago to facilitate the sale of the Formula 1 Group to a buyer ''chosen'' by him. The company says it lost out and wants compensation.
Mr Ecclestone says Constantin's claim ''lacks any merit'' and he denies any ''conspiracy''.
Philip Marshall QC, for Constantin, outlined allegations at the start of the trial on October 29.
He said the banker had ''assisted'' Mr Ecclestone to facilitate the sale of the Formula 1 Group to a ''purchaser chosen by Mr Ecclestone''. He said payments totalling about £27 million had been made to Mr Gribkowsky - who had been a ''senior ranking official'' at a German bank - at the instigation of Mr Ecclestone.
Mr Marshall said the German bank sold its ''holding'' within the Formula 1 Group to a private equity group called CVC. He said Constantin had investment rights in the Formula 1 group and was entitled to proceeds of any sale. He said the bank's investment had been sold ''without the normal and proper process'' and Constantin had lost out.
Mr Mackenzie, a managing partner of CVC, was today giving evidence about discussions with Mr Ecclestone. He told how the name RBS had cropped up at a meeting.
"I mentioned RBS," said Mr Mackenzie. "He said, 'I know RBS. I'll call the chief executive now' and called Fred Goodwin.
"Goodwin was tracked down by his PA and Bernie said, 'I have got someone in the room who wants to borrow some money from you'."
Mr Mackenzie said Sir Fred's interest was "not unhelpful" and added: "It's quite unusual for a chief executive to call a chief executive of a bank. But that reveals Bernie's influence in the world."
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