Jones penalised for quali moment
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 21 February 2025
Macauley Jones has been hit with the first significant penalty of the 2025 Supercars season ahead of the opening race in Sydney.
Due to impeding James Golding during the closing stages of Q1, Jones has been slapped with a three-place grid penalty for Friday night’s season opener.
Golding was 23rd, but was on a fast lap in the final minutes of the opening segment with a purple first sector.
A progression into Q2 appeared destined for the PremiAir driver until he approached the Turn 10-11 complex.
Just as he went to take the racing line into the open penultimate right hander, he encountered a slow-moving Jones in his way.
The #96 was warming its tyres and whilst the pair avoided contact, Golding had to back out of his final qualifying lap.
Jones was unsighted and went to visit the PremiAir garage to personally apologise, but Golding was nowhere to be seen.
The Brad Jones Racing driver has since admitted to the stewards that he was not wanred from his team and took responsibility for the moment.
To add insult to injury for Golding he finished qualifying 24th, one spot behind Jones.
However, the three-place grid penalty for the #96 elevates Golding and wildcard Cameron Crick ahead of Jones, who will now start last.
Below is the full Motorsport Australia stewards statement
The Driver of Car 96 admitted to driving slowly on the racing line. He said that he was not warned by his Team of the approaching Car.
He said that he saw the lights on the approaching Car in his mirrors but thought Car 31 was on the same preparation strategy as himself and had turned its lights on early. He acknowledged that he had impeded Car 31.
Having considered the matter extensively the Stewards found the breach established and impose the standard Penalty for impeding in Qualifying.
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