Craig Lowndes has been disqualified from Race 5 qualifying at Symmons Plains due to a technical infringement.
Lowndes qualified second behind team-mate Jamie Whincup for both races 4 and 5 at the Tasmanian venue.
The team, however, had ‘stickered’ over two access holes in both the front drivers’ and passenger side windows of the #888 Holden.
A rival team is understood to have tipped off officials to the situation following the second qualifying session.
The Category Technical Manager determined that the tape broke the regulations and gave an aerodynamic benefit.
The team argued that the hole still existed, even though it had been taped over, and therefore the windows were legal.
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The Stewards’ elected to disqualify Lowndes from the session.
Their summary reads: “We find the placing of tape over the handle hole in the insert is a breach of Rules C6.4.4.6 and .7.
“We find that to be the required handle hole is must go completely through the polycarbonate insert.
“The taping of the hole removes the ability for the insert to “be able to removed… at any time…”. The insert could only be removed after the tape is penetrated or removed.
“We find the charge has been proved.”
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