CAMS has advised that the hearing into DJR Team Penske’s alleged team orders rule breach at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 will take place tomorrow.
The stewards summary released the morning after the race had stated that the charge would be heard prior to track activity at next weekend’s Vodafone Gold Coast 600, the following Supercars Championship event.
As well as confirming a hearing date, the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport has also advised that the outcome and release of the decision will take place this Sunday, October 20.
“CAMS can today advise the Stewards Hearing involving Racing Team (Aust) Pty Ltd (DJR Team Penske) regarding the alleged breach of Rule D24.1 at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 will now be held on Saturday,” read a statement from CAMS.
“The outcome and the publication of the decision will occur on Sunday, 20 October, with the stewards summary to be made available on the CAMS website as soon as it is available.”
As first reported by Speedcafe.com, the team which won last Sunday’s Great Race, courtesy of the #17 Shell V-Power Mustang driven by Scott McLaughlin and Alexandre Premat, has come under official scrutiny due to an incident upon the call of a Safety Car on Lap 135.
Fabian Coulthard, in the sister #12 Mustang, slowed on his way to pit lane under that Safety Car such that there was, according to the stewards summary, an “extraordinary increase” in the margin between his car and the #17 car which preceded him on the road.
While Coulthard was made to serve a drive-through penalty during the race for a breach of Safety Car procedures, stewards became “concerned that the incident may have been the result of Racing Team (Aust) Pty Ltd having issued an instruction to the Driver of Car #12 to slow and create an unwarranted large gap between Cars #17 and Car #12 for tactical reasons,” according to the aforementioned summary.
“Rule D24.1 prohibits Team Orders and provides that an instruction to a Driver or Team member, either verbal or otherwise the effect of which may interfere with a race result is a Team Order,” it further noted.
The results of the Bathurst 1000, Race 25 of the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship, remain provisional at this point in time.
It should be stressed that, at this point in time, the only breach established is that by the driver of Car #12 regarding Safety Car procedures, for which a penalty was served in-race.