MSR fined, docked points for tyre sensor breach

Matt Stone Racing has been fined and docked championship points over a tyre sensor breach in the Taupō finale.

On a day Cameron Hill stunned with second in Race 10, MSR also had to leave New Zealand $3000 — half of which is suspended — and 30 teams’ championship points lighter.

The penalties came courtesy of the mandatory tyre pressure monitoring system not being operational on Nick Percat’s #10 Bendix Chevrolet Camaro during Sunday’s race.

Percat came home 23rd, and was out-scored by 102 points by his teammate across the weekend. MSR remains sixth in the teams’ championship.

According to the stewards report, team owner Matt Stone argued the sensors are "known generally to be sensitive and stop operating without adequate warning.”

The report reads: "The Competitor’s representative, Matt Stone, admitted that the sensors were not operational as required by the Rule, but indicated that there were mitigating factors that he wished to make known to the Stewards.

“He stated that the sensors are known generally to be sensitive and stop operating without adequate warning.

“Prior to this Event, the Team had ordered a new set of sensors to replace the existing set of sensors, but that set of sensors had not arrived prior to having to pack the container at the end of the Melbourne Event for transportation to New Zealand.

“Their standard operating procedure is to check the sensors at the end of an event and replace if required. To the Team’s knowledge these particular sensors were still working at that check and so were packed for use at this event.

“The Team has limited operational hours and staff able to check the sensors during an event. It was not until the issue was reported after the Race that he became aware that the sensors had stopped working.

“Having considered the matter extensively; despite the mitigating factors raised by the Competitor, the Stewards note that Rule A4.3.2 provides that a Competitor must ensure that their Car complies with the Rules throughout the Event and so based on their admission that the sensors were not working, find that a breach of Rule D17.1.19.1 is established.

“The Stewards have taken the mitigating factors into account in determining the penalty imposed.”

The 2025 Repco Supercars Championship will resume at the Snowy River Caravans Tasmania Super 440 on May 9-11. Tickets are on sale now.