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Triple Eight stripped of win

By Thomas Miles

Date posted: March 12, 2023

Triple Eight Race Engineering has been stripped of its dream win in Saturday’s season opener at Newcastle.

Both cars #97 and #88 driven to a 1-2 finish by Shane van Gisbergen and Broc Feeney have been disqualified from the race due to a technical breach.

The breaking announcement promotes Tickford’s Cameron Waters to P1, with Chaz Mostert and Brodie Kostecki also elevated to podium finishes.

SEE THE FULL STEWARDS HEARING HERE

Despite the news, Triple Eight Race Engineering has appealed the decision made by the stewards on Sunday morning.

“Motorsport Australia Stewards have handed down their decision regarding Cars 88 and 97 following the opening Supercars race at the Newcastle 500,” read a Motorsport Australia statement.

“The decision was released on Sunday morning, following separate protests from Tickford Racing and Walkinshaw Andretti United and a Saturday evening Stewards’ Hearing. The Deputy Race Directors also alleged a technical breach of C16.2 regarding the Driver Cooling System.

“With deliberations now complete, Stewards have confirmed both Triple Eight cars have been disqualified from Race One of the Newcastle 500.”

The Deputy Race Directors also alleged a technical breach of Rule C16.2 in the Supercars Operations Manual regarding the Driver Cooling System.

“Any Driver cooling system that contains a cooling medium must be mounted within the cockpit utilising the mounting points designated in the GSD for the passenger seat,” reads Rule C16.2 in the Supercars Operations Manual.

In the second and final pit stops of the first race, both van Gisbergen and Feeney had dry ice placed near the driver’s seat.

Following Saturday’s season-opening race, both Tickford Racing and Walkinshaw Andretti United lodged protests against Triple Eight Race Engineering.

Driver cooling has been one of the biggest talking points of the Newcastle 500 with the Camaro being a lot hotter around the footwell than the Mustangs.

After three practice sessions on Friday, van Gisbergen complained his “feet were on fire” and the Camaro was the “hottest car I have driven in a long time.”

With extra heat shielding permitted to be added overnight, it appeared the issue had been addressed, but with outside temperatures in the 30’s for the first race, cooling was still an issue.

The first Supercars session is qualifying at 11.15 AEDT.

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