Triple Eight lodge protest

Triple Eight has lodged a protest against a 15-second time penalty against Jamie Whincup in the closing stages of the 2016 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

The Red Bull Holden Commodore VF driver crossed the line first but was racing under the penalty after a clash with Volvo’s Scott McLaughlin while attempting to pass him late in the race at The Chase as they battled for second place. 

Whincup and co-driver Paul Dumbrell were demoted from first to 11th place in the race because of the penalty, which meant Tekno Autosports were awarded the win.

The appeal against the penalty along with a $10,000 fee has been submitted by Red Bull Racing Australia Team Manager Mark Dutton to the CAMS Stewards of the meeting. 

A spokesman for Supercars said: “Supercars can confirm an appeal has been lodged by Triple Eight Race Engineering Car 88. Under the operations manual all teams have the ability to appeal a particular decision. Once the appeal is formally lodged and evidence is submitted, the appeal is heard by the Supercars court of appeal which is appointed independently and the procedures run by CAMS. A date has yet to be set to hear the appeal. The results of today’s race are final but subject to the appeal.” 

The crux of Triple Eight’s appeal centres on an argument that levying the time penalty is inconsistent with the system of punishment that has been explained to teams this year, which includes three levels of offence and the ability to redress an error by handing back the position taken in the passing move.

Whincup did slow and attempt to redress with McLaughlin immediately, but Holden Racing Team’s Garth Tander made contact from the rear as he attempted to pass and then ricocheted into McLaughlin who was re-joining from the grass.

Tander was eliminated on the spot, McLaughlin’s car was damaged but continued out of contention while Whincup raced on. 

“We have protested the 15 seconds because the penalty they gave is completely inconsistent with what we have been given as the way the rules will be enforced this year,” Triple Eight owner Roland Dane told supercars.com.

“It is questionable whether Jamie was guilty of any crime when you actually look at the incident with McLaughlin. The stewards have confirmed that the 15 seconds penalty is nothing to do with the aftermath. That wasn’t Jamie’s fault. It was only to do with the incident with McLaughlin.”