PREMIAIR Racing yesterday cleverly was able to take advantage of a Top 10 Shootout rule loophole.
PremiAir was investigated for changing tyres on its #31 Nulon Camaro after the Saturday Shootout had got underway.
That contravened Rule D6.3.6: “From 1 minute prior to the start of the TTSO until the Car has been released from Parc Ferme by the HoM, no work is permitted to be undertaken on the Car unless with the express permission of the HoM, except for the activities specified in Rule 6.3.6.”
However, no further action was ultimately taken on the matter after PremiAir and its authorised representative Geoffrey Slater successfully argued its case, meaning James Golding was free to keep eighth on the grid for Race 1.
“The Authorised Representative explained that Car 31 was rolled out of its garage into the position required by Rule D6.3.4 with wet weather Control Tyres fitted before the commencement of the Session,” read a stewards report.
“Car 31 was lifted and those wheels were removed and wheels with dry Control Tyres were fitted. The dry Control Tyres had been left warming in the sunshine behind Car 31’s garage as is permitted under the Rules. Car 31 participated in the Top Ten Shootout on those tyres.
“Rule D6.3.6 prohibits any work being performed on a Car without the permission of the HoM at any time between 1 minute before the commencement of the Session and when it is released from parc ferme after the Session except for specified work including, relevantly, “Changing from wet weather Control Tyres to dry Control Tyres”.
“The Authorised Representative did not have the permission of the HoM to change the tyres but submitted that he did not require permission because what had been done fell within the exception.
“Conditions prior to and during the Top Ten Shootout were dry. The Race Director had not declared the Session wet.
“Rule D17.5.2 prohibits the use of wet weather Control Tyres in Qualifying or a Race unless the Session has been declared wet by the Race Director.
“Video evidence demonstrated that the wet weather Control Tyres which were fitted to Car 31 when it was rolled out of its garage were removed within 1 minute prior to the commencement of the Session but 15 seconds prior to the commencement of the Session.
“In no sense could the wet weather Control Tyres be said to have been used during the Session because they were removed before the start of the Session.
“As the change from wet to dry Control Tyres occurred within the time period referenced in Rule D6.3.6, that work fell within one of the exceptions to the Rule which otherwise prohibits work being performed on a Car in that time period.
“The Stewards therefore determined that no breach of the Rules could be established.”
The Sunday Top 10 Shootout starts at 12pm.
V8 Sleuth understands the rule loophole is set to be closed after the NTI Townsville 500.
