Following Race 2, in which the popular pair of Queenslanders finished third, the #87 Artura was found to be using illegal shock absorber components.
The steward’s report, issued in the days following the event, noted that the anomaly was found in post-race inspection, alleging that the components failed to comply with category rules.
The regulations noted that anything outside of what was fitted by the original equipment manufacturer was not permitted to be used.
“During the Parc Ferme after Race 2, technical checks included testing and inspecting a rear shock absorber from car 87,” the stewards findings read.
“The component was found to have 2 metal washers and a cylindrical bump stop fitted, whereas the original equipment supplied by the manufacturer was physically and visually different.
“The Team argued that the original bump stop was a consumable item and bump stops as originally supplied and included in the car’s Technical Form were only able to be obtained from the manufacturer as a complete shock absorber assembly.
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“The rules did not permit anything other than the original equipment supplied by the manufacturer. The strict wording of the rule leaves no discretion for stewards to accept any other component.
“Consequently, the inclusion of other parts causes the car not to comply with the relevant Articles and the Technical Form. The minimum penalty which must be imposed is the disqualification of Car 87 from Race 2.”
The result was a double blow for the pair, whose third place finish was a bounce back from a dismal Race 1.
Caught out in treacherous conditions under lights, Hughes and Rintoule finished Race 1 13th in class, netting zero points.
As a result of the disqualification, the pair fell to ninth in the Silver Cup standings with three rounds remaining.
Monochrome GT4 Australia now heads north to Hidden Valley Raceway in Darwin on July 24-26.
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