From:
Foxsports
Security upgrade
By Peter Krupka
August 17, 2004
RACE circuits around Australia have been ordered to upgrade security following the sabotaging of leading driver Jason Bright's car last weekend.
Wayne Cattach, chief executive of the sport's governing body AVESCO, made the move yesterday as suspicion grew that a member of the public, rather than a rival team, tampered with Bright's PWR Team Holden Commodore at Oran Park in Sydney's southwest last Thursday night.
"AVESCO has instructed every circuit to conduct an immediate review and upgrade of their individual security arrangements," Cattach said.
"We are taking this matter extremely seriously given that it put the safety of at least one driver in jeopardy."
Bright discovered as he reached speeds of more than 150km/h during Friday's practice session that his throttle was stuck open. He was forced to stall the engine to avoid crashing but was unable to re-start.
His team later found a plastic bag had been wrapped around his throttle keeping it open. Further investigations revealed several nuts and bolts inside a cylinder caused the engine to seize.
Bright is the series leader and well placed to take his first title this year.
AVESCO technical director Paul Taylor investigated the sabotage claims and concluded there was no evidence that a rival team tampered with Bright's car, which was mistakenly not locked away on Thursday night.