THE Newcastle 500 disqualification saga is over, with the Supercars National Court of Appeal ruling against Triple Eight Race Engineering tonight.
Shane van Gisbergen had led home teammate Broc Feeney in the first ever Gen3 race earlier this month, only for Tickford Racing and Walkinshaw Andretti United to protest the legality of both Red Bull Ampol Camaros.
That related to the placement of a driver cooling system on the right-hand side of the #88 and #97 cars, with Motorsport Australia stewards subsequently excluding both from Race 1.
Triple Eight immediately appealed the decision, but did make changes to its driver cooling system before Sunday track action in Newcastle to ensure it was definitively compliant when it went on to win Race 2, again via van Gisbergen.
Central to Triple Eight’s appeal was its claim that Supercars Head of Motorsport Adrian Burgess had given verbal approval of the system’s position; a fact Burgess denied at the original stewards hearing.
The Brisbane squad had also pointed to the incompletion of Gen3 files including the General Specification Document, as well as safety concerns for its drivers.
Following a lengthy appeal hearing tonight in Melbourne, a Motorsport Australia statement confirmed the case had been dismissed.
“Motorsport Australia can confirm Triple Eight Race Engineering’s appeal has been heard and dismissed and cars 97 and 88 are disqualified from race one of the Newcastle 500,” read the statement.
“Tonight’s hearing was held in Melbourne at Motorsport Australia House in Canterbury, beginning at 6pm and concluding at 9.30pm.
“A three-person panel was convened to hear the appeal. The three members are Walter Sofronoff KC, Steve Chopping and Ross Jackson.
“A full and substantiative decision paper will be published by close of business on Friday and posted on the Motorsport Australia website in full.”
The decision means Chaz Mostert will carry a 45-point lead in the drivers’ championship into Round 2 at Albert Park, with van Gisbergen and Feeney just 11th and 18th respectively.
Cam Waters meanwhile is confirmed as the winner of Race 1.
