Kiwi and a Frenchman a-la-table

What was on the menu?

After much dilly dallying and dithering, Shell V-Power Racing’s Scott McLaughlin, Alex Premat and their mighty Mustang really are 2019 Bathurst 1000 champions!

Their DJR Team Penske was sentenced at Saturday’s CAMS hearing after being found guilty of breaching the FIA International Sporting Code by asking Fabian Coulthard to deliberately slow his Car #12 during Australia’s Great Race last weekend.

Featured image: Performance.ford.com

“After reviewing data from Car #12 following the Bathurst 1000 with the Stewards and Deputy Race Director, DJR Team Penske accepts the penalties issued related to the FIA International Sporting Code.” 

DJR Team Penske.

A cool $250,000 and points

It all went down during a crucial Safety Car on Lap 135 (of 161) around the iconic 6.213km circuit that is Mount Panorama, Bathurst. 

The Team accepted the penalties:

• a cool $250,000 fine, $100,000 which is suspended until the end of the 2021 and, 

• Coulthard and co-driver Tony D’Alberto dropped from sixth to 21st in the Supercars standings, and lose 300 teams’ championship points.

DJR Team Penske’s championship advantage has now been slashed to 423 points over Holden’s Triple Eight.

McLaughlin and Premat retain win

The decision has not affected the race win of McLaughlin and Premat although it must, at times, have been considered a hollow victory.

Still, it’s their names forever more on the coveted trophy, regardless.

Fines earmarked for R&D

CAMS CEO Eugene Arocca has confirmed the fine will be used for research and development of safety mechanisms for the sport.

“I would also like to acknowledge DJR Team Penske’s co-operation with all requests from our stewards throughout this process,” he said.

After the Horse has Bolted!

FOR MINE, the simple fact remains that everyone involved – and the international reputation of the event – may have been better served had the matter been resolved on the day, no matter what extra stress that entailed. The sport did not need headlines like this. AC

EDITED by AC