Dempsey-Proton Racing team has intended to appeal the decision made by the stewards to disqualify them from FIA World Endurance Championship’s 6 Hours of Fuji and also take away their points scored in all of 2018/19 season.
Following the qualifying session of the 6 Hours of Shanghai, the stewards dropped a bombshell on the Dempsey-Proton Racing as they not only disqualified both its entries from the 6 Hours of Fuji but also strip them from the points scored in the current season.
The #77 crew of Christian Reid, Matt Campbell, Julien Andlauer stands to lose out hugely as they headed the drivers’ standings with 80 points while the regular #88 crew of Matteo Cairoli and Giorgio Roda will lose its 11th place having scored 24 points.
Even the team led the Endurance Trophy standings with 80 points. The decision taken by the stewards after it found that the teams’ ‘data loggers were transferring false information and fraudulent process and failed to cooperate in an investigation’.
The team were found to breach Article 2.1.1.c, 12.1.1 g of the ISC and Annexe B which refers to ‘loyalty and cooperation obligation’ which left them no choice but to disqualify both the cars for the Fuji round and also take away all of its points.
In addition, the team will also be referred to his licence-issuing ASN – Germany in this case – for any further sanction as they deem appropriate. The stewards laid out detailed explanation for the harsh decision to be taken.
The stewards state that the fraudulent process was in place not only in Fuji but also in Silverstone where the data logger was increased by two seconds with the purpose of increasing the time of refueling sensor signal sent to the FIA/ACO.
Dempsey-Proton Racing was represented by driver and owner Ried along with technical director Michael Ried where they stated that the extra code was added by an external consultant with whom they work in official capacity.
However, they refused to divulge details of the said company – whether in open or in confidence to the stewards which further derailed the process. They even heard from Porsche’s Customer Service head, Mr. Markus Stolzenthaler.
He reminded the team to co-operate with the stewards but even after several requests Ried maintained his position and refused to budge with the stewards left with no choice but to award the team with the aforementioned penalties.
While the team did not wish to reveal or co-operate in the matter, they have still decided to go ahead and appeal the decision taken which comes as a surprise as it seems clear that the team has breached the ‘loyalty and cooperation obligation’ at the least.
With the intention to appeal – and if they do it – the result will remain the same until the final decision but for now, it is Project 1 Porsche drivers Egidio Perfetti, Jorg Bergmeister and Patrick Lindsey as Am class leaders by 12 points from TF Sport Aston Martin pair of Salih Yoluc and Charlie Eastwood.
[Check: FIA’s decision]
