Stewards explain Waters Race 18 unsafe release penalty

A Motorsport Australia stewards report has revealed how Broc Feeney’s telemetry was key to why Cam Waters was penalised for an unsafe release in Sydney.

Waters crossed the line third in Race 18 at the Beaurepaires Sydney SuperNight, behind winner Brodie Kostecki and Chaz Mostert.

However, the #6 Monster Energy Mustang was reclassified to fifth after a five-second time penalty was applied.

Waters was released from Tickford Racing’s pit bay as Feeney was trying to enter the Red Bull Ampol Racing pit bay.

Feeney baulked behind the Monster Ford, with Waters remonstrating over team radio when informed of the penalty.

According to the latest stewards report, Feeney had to brake "firmly" in order to avoid contact with Waters.

Per Rule B7.3 of the Supercars Operations Manual, a car being released from its pit bay "must do so without impeding any other Car in Pit Lane".

The report reads:

Following a request for investigation by Triple Eight Race Engineering that Car 88 was impeded in the Pit Lane by the release of Car 6 into its path, the Stewards conducted an investigation. Telemetry from Car 88 revealed that Car 88 braked firmly in the fast lane at the point when Car 6 was released in front of it and the brake was released when Car 6 was clear of Car 88.The Stewards were satisfied that Car 88’s path into its Pit Bay was impeded by the release of Car 6 into its path and imposed a 5 second Time Penalty on Car 6.

It wasn’t the only high-profile penalty in the race, with Shane van Gisbergen pinged over a last-lap clash with Will Brown for effective third.

Van Gisbergen made nose-to-tail contact with Brown’s #9 Coca-Cola Camaro at Turn 8 on the last lap.

The #97 Red Bull Ampol Camaro was reclassified to seventh in the results, with Brown promoted to the podium.

The report adds:

The stewards imposed a 5 second Time Penalty on Car 97 after Car 97 made repeated avoidable contact with the rear of Car 9 at turn 8 and gained an advantage as a result, Car 9 having been pushed off line.

Brown’s boss Barry Ryan was later fined $5000 over an expletive-laden interview regarding the incident prior to the announcement of van Gisbergen’s penalty.

Supercars will return to the track in Sydney for Race 19 qualifying at 12:35pm local time/AEST.