PREMIAIR Racing has been fined for a Townsville pitlane blunder which forced Jack Le Brocq to take evasive action.
Front-row starter Le Brocq was impeded while trying to enter his pit bay on Lap 24 just as PremiAir was pushing Tim Slade’s #23 Nulon Camaro out of the garage.
Slade had been in the lane for several laps as his crew attended to a steering issue, and the unusual case of an unsafe release left Le Brocq’s Matt Stone Racing less than impressed.
Nor the stewards, judging by the verdict of a post-race investigation.
“Following the Race and after an investigation by the DRD and an admission by the Team, the Stewards imposed a Fine of $10,000 ($5,000 of which is suspended until 31 December 2023) on PremiAir Racing for a breach of Rule D11.2.3 (Car Controller must ensure the Pit Stop is carried out safely and maintain full control of the Pit Stop) regarding an Incident during the Race when Car 23, Tim Slade, was pushed back out of its Pit Garage into the path of Car 34, Jack Le Brocq impeding Car 34 and requiring Car 34 to take evasive action to avoid colliding with Car 23,” read the stewards report.
UPDATE: PremiAir has also been penalised 50 teams’ championship points.
The incident capped a tough first weekend for PremiAir since splitting with Matt Cook, their Saturday race marred by a clash between Slade and teammate James Golding.
Among other post-Race 2 matters was Declan Fraser being cleared over a first-lap incident which saw Shane van Gisbergen spin.
“During the Race the DRD in consultation with the DSA and at the request of Triple Eight Race Engineering conducted and investigation into an Incident at Turn 7 on Lap 1 when contact occurred between Car 97, Shane van Gisbergen, and Car 777, Declan Fraser, as a result of which Car 97 left the track,” the stewards reported.
“A review of broadcast footage revealed that Car 97 made a late overtaking attempt on Car 777 on the outside of Turn 7.
“Car 777 left racing room for Car 97 on the outside and the contact was caused when Car 97 turned into Car 777.
“There was no evidence capable of establishing any breach of the Rules by the Driver of Car 777.”
In terms of Super2, a 25-second post-race penalty was applied to Cooper Murray for an incident which saw Aaron Love find the inside wall at the high-speed Turn 10.
That relegated Murray from sixth to 16th.
