Not too long ago this column had the temerity to suggest that Grand Prix motor racing was not as pure as it was painted. Last season David Coulthard pulled over to let his team-mate through to win a race. The column was attacked in letters to the editor suggesting that the column didn't understand the complexities of the Grand Prix circuit and that the column should stay away from matters which it didn't appreciate.

There was a certain amount of weight in that argument and, suitably contrite, the matter has not been addressed in this space since.

But, lo and behold, in the first race of the new season, the same thing happens, involving the same two drivers, for the same team. The only difference on this new occasion was that the two drivers involved made a pact before the race started, that the driver who got to the first bend first would win the race if in a position to do so. To their credit they made no secret of this afterwards.

Now, pardon the ignorance, but the column was under the impression, then and now, that this activity is called sport. It may be recalled that last season Michael Schumacher attempted to force a rival, Jacques Villeneuve, off the track only to be hoist on his own petard. Schumacher had done something which, had he and his rival been on the Naas dual carriageway, might have ended with a long stretch in "The Joy".

On the previous occasion the analogy of two horses from the same stable battling out a close finish was used to support the argument being made. This was dismissed at the time as poppycock and that it was not comparing like with like. The motor racing fraternity held firmly to the notion that the same rules did not apply and the Formula One was drawn around in a circle with the suggestion that those of us who didn't understand should stay away from their gloriously uncertain "sport".

In a way it was a humbling experience to be given a slap on the wrist by a loving parent with a view to correcting an errant child. Some quiet tears were shed!.

And then, in the very first race of the new season, the same thing happens again! The Scottish driver David Coulthard was leading and to all intents and purposes a comfortable winner when he slowed down, pulled over and allowed his McLaren-Mercedes team mate Mika Hakkinen to overtake and win the race. The column, however, remained suitably chastened until people prominent within the "sport" began to whinge.

It was no surprise to learn that people who had paid good money to watch the race were slightly peeved and felt somewhat cheated. Nor was it all that extraordinary that punters who had backed Coulthard to win were demanding their money back.

What came as something of a shock, however, was the fact that, first of all Coulthard was congratulated widely for his "sporting gesture" which was, according to one observer as "an example to young people". But then the mood changed at the highest level.

It came as something of a complete shock and a relief when none other than Coulthard himself bared his soul on the matter. Asked in an interview with the Total Sport magazine about the last time he was unhappy his reply was: "I wasn't happy about the last race, where I was requested by the team to let Mika (Hakkinen) through. I think you should race to win on the track rather than manufacture a situation".

Well, as far as this column is concerned, fair play to you Dave! Exactly my sentiments, the very sentiments for which this column was vilified on a previous occasion.

Yet if that wasn't enough who should endorse that point of view than Eddie Jordan and several other prominent personalities in motor racing. The column began to feel more comfortable and even began to preen itself. Interestingly enough, in between the last Formula One of last season and the first race of this, a very interesting libel case went through the English courts when a young Irish jockey, Kieren Fallon, and his employers, Jack and Linda Ramsden, recovered massive damages when it was alleged that they had conspired to stop a horse Top Cees from winning a race.

It was a very serious charge and if the allegation had been proved it would have had extremely serious consequences for both Fallon and the Ramsdens.

There can be little difference between a jockey agreeing "not to try" than a situation where a driver pulls over to let another driver win a race. There are many occasions when horses from the same stable race against each other where the "team" concept does not apply.

The implications are extremely serious if drivers or jockeys or trainers of team managers make arrangements not to win a race.

Apart altogether from this is the fact that the supporters of any sport will very soon lose interest if they are doubtful about the authenticity of the contest they have paid to watch.

We all know of incidents in many different sports where results have been arranged. It is fair to say that no form of sport is free of such suggestions. Boxing, racing, soccer and many other sports have been suspected, from time to time, of various forms of wrong doing.

Perhaps it is to the credit of motor sport that the authorities have been so up front about the recent complicities between Coulthard and Hakkinen and nobody suggests that they are the only ones.

What the administrators of the sport must do now is to take a new look at themselves. As far as I can gather they are a rather aloof lot (aren't they all) but, without public confidence, they could be isolated and, while everybody realises that motor racing is much more a business than a sport, it must still preserve its own honour and races which are decided on the first bend cease to be races at all or worthy of the name of sport.