In a controversial incident at Ipswich, Cam Hill was penalized for running Zach Bates off the track during a tense moment in the race.
The Incident Unfolds
[IMAGE0CONTEXT:ktm_unknown] Cam Hill was handed a drive-through penalty in the 200km Sunday race after making contact with rookie Zach Bates twice on the main straight. The officials deemed Hill’s actions to be dangerous driving, which is defined as “any intentional action by a driver that creates serious risk to others.” Hill later defended his actions, claiming he was responding to being “leant on” by Bates and was merely trying to signal him to back down, insisting he did not intend to knock him off the track.
Both Bates and Matt Stone, the team principal, condemned Hill’s behavior, with Stone labeling it “one of the silliest things I’ve seen happen in a race car in a while.” The intentional nature of the contact raised discussions about whether Hill should face additional penalties beyond the in-race sanction. Although officials stated that the penalty was consistent with those applied for similar infractions in the past, Brown has called for a reassessment of the penalties.
Reactions and Opinions
The incident occurred in the same race where Ryan Wood received a 15-second time penalty for spinning Brown, an action that officials categorized as careless driving. Brown expressed his mixed feelings about the situation, stating, “I’m torn because I think something more should be done than just a drive-through.” He elaborated on the difference between accidental and intentional actions, likening Wood’s incident to an accidental foul in rugby, while viewing Hill’s actions as a deliberate tackle.
Brown described the incident further, saying, “He literally ran you from the full left side, hit you three times, and then didn’t even stop when he knew there wasn’t a car width left; he actually put you off the road.” He strongly believes that Hill’s actions were intentional and warrants a more severe response.
Proposed Punishments
When asked what punishment he thought would be fitting, Brown suggested that Hill should sit out the first practice at Tailem Bend. “I think sit out first practice at Tailem Bend or something like that, that’s not too bad that it ruins everything, or you miss a round, but it’s bad enough…” he commented.
He emphasized the importance of teaching drivers about the consequences of losing their temper during races, stating, “Everyone is going ‘oh, I got hot under the collar’. It’s going to teach them that when they get hot under the collar, there’s a bigger consequence than just a drive-through or a stop-and-go.” Brown concluded that there is a difference between frustration and reckless behavior, and drivers need to learn to manage their emotions better.
Race Outcomes
Bates ultimately finished the race in 20th place after a later collision with Hill’s teammate, Nick Percat, who was penalized with a 15-second penalty for careless driving due to contact at Turn 2. Hill was classified in 24th position following his pit lane penalty and now sits 12th in the championship standings, trailing 108 points behind the 10th place cut-off for the Finals.
Tags: cam hill, matt stone racing, triple eight, will brown