McLaughlin hit with Bathurst breach
Supercars championship leader Scott McLaughlin had to start yesterday’s Sandown 500 in Melbourne from the rear of the grid after an engine rule breach at last month’s Bathurst 1000.
Stewards announced on the morning of the 500km endurance race that McLaughlin’s Ford Mustang had run an engine during qualifying and the top-10 shootout at Bathurst which ‘‘exceeded the maximum permitted valve lift’’ under regulations.
As a result McLaughlin and co-driver Alex Premat, who qualified fifth for the Sandown race, had to start alongside Shane van Gisbergen and Garth Tander at the back of the grid.
DJR Team Penske have been fined A$30,000 for the breach while McLaughlin has been stripped of his pole position and lap record from Mount Panorama.
However, the New Zealander will how retain his Bathurst victory after DJR Team Penske changed the engine in his Mustang before the 1000km race.
It’s the second fine issued to DJR Team Penske following the controversial Bathurst weekend, with a partially suspended A$250,000 fine and the loss of 300 teams’ championship points being imposed after Fabian Coulthard was directed to hold up the field during a late safety car.
Coulthard was told to exercise ‘‘extreme caution’’ and warned of ‘‘debris’’ in lap 135 of the race, slowing the field enough to allow leading duo McLaughlin and Jamie Whincup to pit without conceding track position.
In a statement DJR Team Penske yesterday emphasised their belief that McLaughlin’s engine was within regulations and it was never their intent to break any rules.
Despite the penalty, McLaughlin was still in the box seat to wrap up this year’s title race at Sandown.
The 26-year-old has a 500-point championship lead over van Gisbergen and needs to be 300 or more points clear after the race to have an unassailable advantage.
If van Gisbergen wins the race, even a 25th-place finish for McLaughlin would give him enough points to secure back-toback championships.
For the latest from yesterday’s Sandown 500 go to stuff.co.nz