Bathurst - Stewards Penalties

[RaceTime]

STEWARDS PENALTIES IMPOSED AT THE V8 SUPERCAR CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES, ROUND 10, BOB JANE T-MARTS 1000, MOUNT PANORAMA, 9-12 OCTOBER 2003



THURSDAY 9 OCTOBER


Adjourned inquiry from Sandown into an alleged breach of Testing Rules by Brad Jones Racing at Winton was reconvened. The Stewards could not conclusively find that a breach of the rule had occurred.


K Mart Racing was found to be in breach of Rules for use of Refuelling Tower on Wednesday 8 October, outside the specified times of use. A penalty of $5,000 was imposed.


An inquiry was held into an alleged breach of Corporate Ride Day Rules by Brad Jones Racing at Calder Raceway on 15/09/03. The breach was proved but due to the unusual circumstances surrounding the breach, no penalty was imposed by the Stewards.


Prodrive Racing was found to be in breach of three Pit Lane Safety Rules at Sandown on 14/09/03 regarding excess numbers of team members working on the car, equipment which entered the fast lane and loss of control of parts and equipment. The breaches were proved by admission. Stewards imposed a penalty of $10,000.


Car #44, Team Dynamik was found to be in breach of Pit Lane Safety Rules when wheel rolled into the fast lane. Breach was proved by admission and a penalty of $2000 was imposed.


Stone Brothers Racing were found to be in breach of Pit Lane Safety Rule when a wheel nut rolled into the fast lane. Stewards imposed a penalty of $2000.


Car #24, A McElrea, was found to be in breach of Rules, in that the driver was not wearing a helmet or seat belt. Breach was proved by admission. A penalty of $1000 was imposed.


Car #2, Mark Skaife was found to be in breach of Pit Lane Entry Rules, in that he made contact with floppy markers. A penalty of $500 was imposed.


Car #45, N.Minassian, was found to be in breach of Rules, exceeding the pit lane speed limit. Stewards imposed a penalty of $300.



FRIDAY 10 OCTOBER


Car #19, Prodrive Racing, was found to be in breach of Pit Lane Safety Rule, in that incompressible jack stands were not in place whilst a team member was partly under the car. Breach was proved by admission. A penalty of $5000 was imposed.


Neal Bates, #23, was found to be in breach of Rules, exceeding the pit lane speed limit. A penalty of $300 was imposed.


Car #20, Kerry Wade, was found to be in breach of Pit Lane Entry Rules in that he made contact with floppy markers. A penalty of $500 was imposed.


Car #6, Craig Lowndes, was found to be in breach of Rules, exceeding the pit lane speed limit. A fine of $300 was imposed.


An investigation was held into the circumstances surrounding the malfunction of the airjack of car #13 in pit lane. The Stewards recommended that the incident be referred to the Category Technical Manager for investigation into the future provision of safety overpressure valves on all air lines used on cars in pit lane.


An inquiry was held into the alleged breach of Rules in that car #46, Dale Brede, passed car #888 under red flag conditions. Breach was proved by admissions but due to the circumstances (car #888 slowed considerably due to running out of fuel) no penalty was imposed.


Stone Bros Racing was found to be in breach of the Rules, failure to attend Driver and Team Manager Briefing. A Fine of $500 was imposed.


Saturday 11 October
An inquiry was held into an alleged breach of Pit Lane Safety Rules by car #44, Team Dynamik, in that a team member was seen to be under car #44 when only one incompressible jack device was in place. The breach was not proved and no further action was required.


Car #2, Todd Kelly, was found to be in breach of rules in that when entering the pits he drove car #2 across the line separating the deceleration zone from the race track. Breach was proved by admission. A penalty of $1,000 was imposed.


Car #888, Andrew Jones, was found to be in breach of the Rules, exceeding the pit lane speed limit. A penalty of $300 was imposed.


Super Cheap Auto Racing Team Manager was found to be in breach of the Rules, failure to attend briefing. A fine of $500 was imposed.



SUNDAY 12 OCTOBER


The following cars received pit lane drive through penalties during the race:
Car #45 (Minassian/Magnussen), exceeding the pit lane speed limit.
Car #10 (Larkham/Bargwana), driving infringement.
Car #888 (Andrew Jones/Cleland), exceeding the pit lane speed limit.
Car #19 (Besnard/ Owen Kelly), entering pit lane incorrectly.
Car #19 (Besnard/Owen Kelly), exceeding the pit lane speed limit.
Car #44 (Wills/Jason Richards), loss of a wheel.


Car #1 (Skaife/T. Kelly) received the black/orange flag to secure a loose left hand rear door.


An inquiry was held into an incident between car #11, Steven Richards, and car #21, John Bowe, on approximately lap 149. Stewards found that there was insufficient evidence to support a breach of Rules by either driver.


An inquiry was held into an incident between car #34, Garth Tander, and car #21, Brad Jones, on approximately lap 3 at Ozemail corner. Stewards found that there was inadequate evidence to support a breach of the Rules by either driver.


Car #21, Ozemail Team, was found to be in breach of Pit Lane Safety Rules when the fire attendant failed to carry out his duties in accordance with the rules. Breach was proved by admission. Stewards imposed a penalty of $4,000, taking into account that the action of the fire attendant did not amount to working on the car and was clearly designed to mitigate a potential fire hazard.



KONICA


Car #42, P Foster, was found to be in breach of Rules for use of reverse gear in Pit Lane. A penalty of $1,000 was imposed.


Car #14, M Seferis, was found to be in breach of Rules, exceeding the pit lane speed limit. A penalty of $400 was imposed


Car #55 , J Fernandez, was found to be in breach of the Rules, failure to attend briefing. A fine of $250 was imposed.

[Adam Laws]

McElrea got off rather lightly given it was one of the more mind boggling things I have heard happen..

He was returning his car to the paddock during practice (ie session still going on), but drove out on to Mountain Straight not wearing belts or helmet... someone must have told him to just drive down the end and turn left !!

[Big Trev]

No blackflag here, just a meatball!!!!

[RaceTime]

Car #2, Todd Kelly, was found to be in breach of rules in that when entering the pits he drove car #2 across the line separating the deceleration zone from the race track. Breach was proved by admission. A penalty of $1,000 was imposed.

This is the one I find interesting - by implication he should have continued around the track possibly dropping oil around the track (which he would probably have been fined for anyway) - damned if you do, damned if you don't...

[GTRMagic]

SBR dumped a nice load of coolant mixed with oil all the way up pitlane, round the back of the pits and into the tent... the sun dried up the water portion

Tratty's thing piddled oil all up pitlane too... the spill crew was kept very busy

Wouldnt both of these been quite serious incidents as well, coming into the pits, even at the limited speeds?

[GTV27]

running the floppy markers over is obviously more dangerous than speeding in the pit lane....

[Mattracer]

I thought the purpose of the floppy markers was to highlight where the blend line was, without actually going over the line?

[rocket]

why did the konica driver get a bigger fine than the main game drivers who exceeded the pit lane speed limit, $400 compared to $300, same infringment different ammount doesnt make sense

[Mattracer]

$ per metre over perhaps?

[Wizzby]

I've noticed that SBR seem to be making a habit of not going to these briefings.... seen a fine for them in quite a few rounds this year, if I remember rightly....

And yeah I think there's a few incidents that haven't made the list either, like Bowe's dent in Skaifey's car... and the first lap incident as well

[sevi]

Yes Ross I think you need me on the team, there has not been any fines for any team I have worked for, for missing a briefing.

[Lyris]

Do we know who it was that missed the meeting???

Have a feeling I can guess but....... information is always better

[GTRMagic]

So you miss a meeting... having seen the number of engagements the drivers, key team members and anyone related to that operation had at Bathurst, I am surprised they had time to remember there was a race on. Sponsors, motor manufacturers, fans... they were kept incredibly busy!

In the good old days, Alan Jones used to not attend either, and pay the fine for the privilege.

[Wizzby]

Yeah but it's still an official briefing and sport being sport they should be there... I've also noticed that despite the number of times they keep missing it, the fine does not increase.

[RaceTime]

And the fines you don't see - are for drivers missing their autograph sessions and similar....

[Wizzby]

Well the fines increase for repeat offenders for everything else, I just thought it was logical

[RaceTime]

Logic? V8 Racing?

Phttt - those two words are NEVER used in the same sentence

[Wizzby]

Well, maybe that will change...

[RaceTime]

Whilst the current people remain in charge - very unlikely...

[Wizzby]

Hmm yes well they might not be there for that long... That is if TC really wants this category to move forward. We can't display the series to the world in it's current state, it's an absolute farce. Cars dodging tow trucks, mistimed practice sessions, dodgy race calls and weak as lolly water rules are a pathetic excuse for an operating body.

Time for a complete gut up and overhaul

[Mattracer]

Originally posted by Wizzby
We can't display the series to the world in it's current state,

By that statement, do you mean going to China?

[Wizzby]

And further.... I am a visionary!