Bamber Porsche Disqualified from Bathurst 12 Hour Qualifying Session
In a significant development at the Bathurst 12 Hour event, the #61 Earl Bamber Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R has been disqualified from the qualifying session. The decision stemmed from a violation of the Balance of Performance (BoP) regulations concerning the car’s rear wing height.
Bamber Porsche Disqualified: Key Facts
The technical director confirmed that the rear wing of car #61 fell outside the stipulated range by five millimeters. Despite multiple assessments, the wing height consistently violated compliance standards.
Measurement Details
- Initial measurement during Parc Ferme indicated a wing height of -16mm.
- The minimum required wing height is specified as -10mm, allowing for a tolerance of +/- 5mm.
- Further checks revealed measurements of -17mm and -16.5mm using a laser level technique.
- Team representatives contested the accuracy of the initial measurement methods.
- Upon conducting independent measurements, the team recorded wing heights of -20mm and -17mm respectively.
Ultimately, team representatives acknowledged that the wing height exceeded the allowed limits. It was determined that the car would be relegated to the back of the race field due to this technical breach.
Impact on the Race
Laurin Heinrich, who was scheduled to share driving duties with Ricardo Feller and Klaus Bachler, had qualified second-fastest in Q1. After Q2, the Porsche was positioned at 15th before the disqualification. The ruling alters the team’s prospects significantly as they now prepare for the race starting on Sunday at 5:45 AM AEDT.
This incident underscores the crucial importance of adhering to technical specifications within motorsport competitions. The Bathurst 12 Hour remains a premier event on the racing calendar, attracting teams from around the world.
