Penalties left and right for WEC qualifying

The stewards at Sebring International Raceway has been busy after qualifying for 1000 Miles FIA World Endurance Championship race.

Five penalties were handed out to the drivers – and actually only GTE Pro that managed to avoid changes in their starting grid

Racing Team Nederland #29 in LMP2 got their time taken away, since both Frits van Eerd and Nyck de Vries drove too fast in the pitlane. Actually, both drove exactly 66,2 km/h, so it looked like a problem in the pit limiter, since both drivers did exactly the same speed. 60 km/h is the limit. They were already the slowest in the class, but their names now disappeared from the timing list.

The team can possibly have bigger problems, since only Frits van Eerd has officially done the obligatory evening drive. The team had some problems in FP2, so only the team owner did eight laps. De Vries drove in the qualifying yesterday, but now that their times got deleted, the question is if it still counts or not. Giedo van der Garde hasn’t driven in the dark at all this weekend – but he has experience from Le Mans. So holefully, the team can get a dispensation and will be allowed to drive.

Gulf Racing Porsche #86
Photo: JJ Media

Spirit of Race Ferrari #54 driver Thomas Flohr got his fastest lap taken away for speeding under red flag. The speed limit here is 80 km/h and he didn’t make it, so now they’ll have to start from seventh place in GTE Am.

The same penalty is given to MR Racing Ferrari #70 driver Motoaki Ishikawa, who will have to start from P8.

But the worst penalty went to Gulf Racing #86 with Mike Wainwright, who has to start last in the class.

SMP Racing #17 lost their third starting position for the race, because Stephane Sarrazin ignored a blue flag, and thus hindering another car on their flying lap. Sarrazin then lost his fastest lap and his second fastest only takes him to P4. Rebellion Racing #3 with Gustavo Menezes, Nathaniel Berthon and Thomas Laurent will now start from third.

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