Will Brown faced a significant setback during the third Ipswich Super440 race at Queensland Raceway when his rear wheels spun during a pit stop, leading to a post-race investigation.
Incident Overview
[IMAGE0CONTEXT:bmw_unknown] During his second pit stop, Brown’s #1 Red Bull Ampol Camaro was seen with its rear wheels spinning while elevated. This incident prompted a hearing by Motorsport Australia stewards to determine if any rules had been violated.
Rule Breach
Brown was found guilty of breaching Rule D11.8.9, which stipulates that during any pit stop, from the moment the car leaves the ground until it returns to the ground, the brake lock mechanism must be engaged to prevent the rear wheels from rotating without prior approval from the General Manager of Motorsport (GMM). The specifics of the rule include:
– 11.8.9.1: During any pit stop, while the brake lock mechanism is engaged, the rear brake pressure must be a minimum of 20 bar.
– 11.8.9.2: If the GMM grants approval for wheel rotation, the wheels must stop before the car is lowered to the ground.
– 11.8.9.3: A slight movement of the rear wheels does not necessarily constitute rotation, as determined at the GMM’s discretion.
Defense and Consequences
The defense presented by Triple Eight representative Mark Dutton argued that the brake lock mechanism was engaged and that the brake pressure was above the minimum required. However, stewards concluded that a breach occurred due to the actual rotation of the wheels, irrespective of the line locker status.
As a result of this incident, Brown finished the race in 16th place after being spun to the back of the field by Ryan Wood. The post-race penalty has significant implications, dropping him from second to third in the championship standings, now behind Grove Racing Ford driver Matt Payne. A more detailed explanation of the case is anticipated to be released soon.