WAU excluded from first Sandown practice

Both Walkinshaw Andretti United Mustangs have been excluded from Practice 1 at the Penrite Oil Sandown 500 over a technical breach.

As Practice 2 got underway on Friday, it became clear that both WAU Fords were under investigation over the use of an incorrect drop gear ratio.

The Nick Percat/Fabian Coulthard #2 Mobil 1 NTI and Chaz Mostert/Lee Holdsworth #25 Mobil 1 Optus Fords have since been wiped from the Practice 1 results.

According to the stewards’ report, amid an admission by WAU of a breach of supplementary regulation 6.2, all cars are required to install the back up one drop gear of 1.000 from the commencement of the event.

Cars #2 and #25 did not have the correct drop gear installed, with the stewards disqualifying cars #2 and car #25 from Practice 1.

Teams were all ordered to move to 1.000 for Sandown, but the supplementary regulations also require drop gear 1.074 to be on hand at the event.

WAU was also hit with a $500 fine over a wheel nut from Percat's car going into the fast lane during Practice 3.

Percat/Coulthard was 20th in the first session of the day, one position ahead of Mostert/Holdsworth.

The exclusion is similar to the fate of Todd Hazelwood at the Beaurepaires Melbourne SuperSprint in April. Hazelwood was excluded from the Race 3 and 4 qualifying sessions over an incorrect drop gear ratio.

Holdsworth and Coulthard were fourth and 15th respectively in the co-driver-only Practice 2. Mostert/Holdsworth was 10th in Practice 3, with Percat/Coulthard 19th.

Triple Eight, meanwhile, was fined $500 from Practice 1 after Craig Lowndes (#888 Supercheap Auto Camaro) was clocked doing 50 km/h at pit entry, where the limit is 40 km/h.

Saturday actions begins with Practice 4 from 10:45am AEST.