Former Formula One driver Felipe Massa (below) has accused auto racing’s governing body of conspiring to prevent him from winning the 2008 title, and the Brazilian claims he is the “rightful” champion.

Massa, who was the runners-up to Lewis Hamilton in the 2008 season, made his claim in a letter sent to the FIA in the first step of a legal battle to take place in Britain. “Simply put, Mr. Massa is the rightful 2008 champion, and F1 and the FIA deliberately ignored the misconduct that stripped him of that title,” the letter states.