Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone, the most powerful man in motor racing, has been ordered back to the pit lane by European Commission competition chiefs.

But the formal proceedings announced on Wednesday by acting EU competition commissioner Karel Van Miert are unlikely to cramp the style of the diminutive yet combative Ecclestone for long if his past career is any guide.

The European Commission is investigating whether Ecclestone broke competition law by obtaining exclusive television rights to Formula One racing.

Ecclestone, 68, who started his career as a motorcycle and car dealer, has made his fortune out of Formula One. As well as being the ringmaster of the Formula One circus, Ecclestone is chief executive of Formula One Holdings. He has created a $120 million digital television business for Formula One and last month raised $1.4 billion in the bond market, paving the way for a stock market flotation.

The `Bernie Bonds' are backed by the broadcasting rights to motor racing. The importance of the television rights can be illustrated by the size of the global audience -- more than 55 billion viewers worldwide in 1998.

Until last year, Ecclestone was little-known outside the glamorous world of motor racing.

That changed in November when he found himself at the centre of a scandal over political favours and backdoor deals.

The son of a trawler captain, Ecclestone is one of the richest men in Britain.

Grey-haired and bespectacled, the chairman of the Formula One Constructors Association (FOCA) is also vice-president for commercial affairs for the International Motoring Federation (FIA).

As motoring writer Richard Williams once said: "He is in a unique position: poacher, gamekeeper and lord of the manor too."

Ecclestone bought the Connaught team in 1958 and 12 years later bought Brabham, home of champions such as Graham Hill and Nelson Piquet.

At Brabham he threw himself into the power struggle between the teams and the ruling body, the FIA.

Ecclestone negotiated deals with promoters and secured the television contracts. He also took over control of on-site advertising and various other promotional activity, creating a package which produced huge revenue for the teams.