Wall Racing appeals contentious non-points call

Motorsport Australia has revealed Wall Racing has officially lodged an intention to appeal the call to not reward points from the opening TCR race in Tasmania last weekend.

The second round of the 2024 Supercheap Auto TCR Australia season was one of the most heated in recent memory due to a call that split pit lane on Sunday.

The point of contention surrounded the opening race of the weekend on Saturday won by Wall Racing’s Tony D’Alberto.

Only 10 of the 30 laps were completed before the chequered flag waved due to an instant red flag and mid-race Safety Car.

Full points were initially rewarded but a successful Garry Rogers Motorsport protest saw them stripped due to an insufficient amount of laps being completed.

The call was made on the eve of the third and deciding race of the weekend on Sunday and meant the grid positions for the final 30-lapper were decided by race 2.

The decision was an extremely controversial one up and down the lane, leading to D’Alberto to park his Wall Racing Honda in a form of protest due to the “unprofessionalism”.

Wall Racing has taken the matter a step further by lodging an intension to appeal.

Motorsport Australia has conformed the appeal will take place prior to the trip to Phillip Island.

“Motorsport Australia can provide the following update regarding the judicial process for the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series at the recent AWC Race Tasmania event,” read a Motorsport Australia statement.

“After the decision was made to award full points for Race 1, Garry Rogers Motorsport protested this decision after the provisional results for Race 1 were released on Sunday morning. 

“That protest was subsequently heard and upheld, with Stewards determining no points would be awarded for the opening race.

“As part of the standard judicial process that is available to all competitors, Wall Racing has since lodged a notice of intention to appeal that decision, with a hearing to be scheduled prior to the next round of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series at Race Phillip Island should the appeal documentation be provided in the prescribed time.

“Given that the judicial process is continuing, the overall round standings for TCR remains provisional.

“Motorsport Australia will advise the outcome of any future judicial matters relating to this event.”

Whilst the TCR round and championship standings are currently provisional, there is nothing at the top of the table.

Zac Soutar leads by only one point ahead of both Ben Bargwanna and Jordan Cox, who are tied on 186.

Without his race 1 win, D’Alberto and Wall Racing sit down in 10th.

The next TCR round at Phillip Island is on April 12-14.

Image: DMAC Photography

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