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The #13 Vaillante Rebellion Oreca 07-Gibson has been disqualified from its third-place finish at the Le Mans 24 Hours after failing post-race technical inspections.
The car was found by stewards to have modification to bodywork which contravened technical regulations, allowing easier access to the malfunctioning starter motor.
“The Stewards received, following the race, a report and video from the Technical Delegate, that clearly show a hole that has been fashioned by the competitor in the right-hand side of the engine cover,” read a statement from stewards.
“The competitor admitted that this was the case and that the hole was made in a second set of bodywork, which was fitted during a pit stop so that the competitor could access the starter motor without having to remove the rear bodywork and wing section and the remove the engine cover each time they stopped to hit the solenoid of the starter motor which was malfunctioning”
In a further breach, the vehicle was also subject to “unauthorised intervention” while under parc ferme conditions post-race.
The Vaillante Rebellion had been driven to third outright and second in the LMP2 class by drivers Nelson Piquet Jr., David Heinemeier Hansson, and Mathias Beche, finishing three laps off the pace of the victorious #2 Porsche.
The disqualification promotes the #37 Jackie Chan DC Racing Oreca 07-Gibson to the outright podium, alongside its sister #38 entry, giving the team an LMP2 class one-two.
Vaillante Rebellion has, however, confirmed that it will appeal the decision.
