Le Brocq reprimanded after Sydney practice

A miscommunication has seen Erebus Motorsport driver Jack Le Brocq reprimanded following Practice at the Thrifty Sydney 500 - Opening Round on Friday.

In a stewards report released ahead of Boost Mobile Qualifying, Le Brocq was found to have disobeyed instructions post-session regarding a Safety Car test and practice starts.

According to the report, Le Brocq pulled up on the starting grid to attempt a practice start as the Safety Car test was ongoing. Once told the Safety Car test had commenced, the Erebus driver didn't complete a practice start.

No other driver was affected, but Le Brocq was found to have disobeyed the Race Director's instructions. Additionally, the report said Le Brocq had "created potentially unsafe circumstances" and ought to have noticed the "display of the SC Boards and flags."

The Authorised Representative of the team acknowledged that he "ought to have given clear instructions to the Driver over team radio.", with the stewards accepting "the infringement was a consequence of a misunderstanding on the part of the Driver which was in part attributable to an absence of clear direction by his Team."

The incident came after Le Brocq's first session with new Race Engineer Barry Ryan, who is also Erebus' CEO.

The stewards report ruling reads:

The Stewards, having received a report from the Deputy Race Director and having summoned and heard from the Driver and the Authorised Representative determine the following:

Competitor: Car 9 Erebus Motorsport Pty Ltd

Car and Driver: Car 9 Jack Le Brocq

Date: Friday, 21 February 2025

Session: Practice 1

Fact: After the chequered flag was displayed and the Race Director announced the commencement of a Safety Car test, Car 9 stopped on the grid

Rule: B6.5.17.1 Failure to follow directions of the RD

Decision: Reprimand to the Driver

Reasons: The Event Program in the Further Supplementary Regulations referenced a 5 minute Safety Car test immediately following the Session to be followed by practice starts should a Driver wish to perform one. During the Session the RD made an announcement over RMC explaining the procedure to be followed at the end of the Session regarding the Safety Car test to be followed by practice starts.

The Driver explained that he believed that all Cars would be permitted to perform practice starts on the grid having taken the chequered flag at the end of the lap prior as has been the convention in previous Championship Events. He was not directed by the Team to do so but was not told that practice starts at that point in time were forbidden. He said that after stopping momentarily, he was told by the Team that a Safety Car test had commenced and he should move off immediately. He did so. He did not perform a practice start. No other Driver was affected.

The Stewards having considered the matter extensively determine that by stopping on the grid when the Safety Car test was underway, the Driver of Car 9 disobeyed the RD’s instructions issued over RMC. By stopping on the grid as the Safety Car test commenced, the Driver of Car 9 created potentially unsafe circumstances. The display of the SC Boards and flags ought to have been noticed by the Driver of Car 9. The Authorised Representative acknowledged that he ought to have given clear instructions to the Driver over team radio. The Stewards accept that the infringement was a consequence of a misunderstanding on the part of the Driver which was in part attributable to an absence of clear direction by his Team. For these reasons the Stewards determined to reprimand the Driver of Car 9.

The Competitor is reminded that Decisions and Penalties that may be subject to Appeal are set out in B7.7.2 and the Rights to and process for an Appeal are set out in B5.