A dramatic flip of occasions has unfolded on the Misano E-Prix. Simply hours after celebrating an exciting victory, Porsche driver Antonio Felix da Costa has been disqualified.
Ranging from a lowly thirteenth place, da Costa masterfully navigated the energy-saving challenges of the race and the monitor, finally taking the checkered flag 4 tenths of a second forward of Nissan’s Oliver Rowland.
Nevertheless, a post-race inspection revealed a technical irregularity with da Costa’s automobile. Particularly, a throttle damper spring was deemed “not in conformity” with the present Method E rules.
The controversy lies within the origin of the half. Based on Porsche, the spring has been unchanged on da Costa’s automobile for the reason that 2022-23 season, the inaugural yr for the Gen3 rules.
Reviews from Misano counsel that whereas the spring was authorized below the earlier Gen2 rules, it seems to have been excluded below the up to date Gen3 ruleset.
“The [Porsche] group supervisor [James Lindesay] said that on the Spark listing [of optional items] the sealed half will not be listed,” said the stewards’ verdict.
“He defined that usually adjustments of the Spark catalogue are highlighted so everyone can see the adjustments.
“The representatives of Spark [Jeremy Boudot and Pierre Prunin] confirmed that this half was listed on the half listing of the Gen2 races, however not on the present Gen3 automobile. Additionally they confirmed that the removing of components from that catalogue will not be highlighted nor canceled.”
It’s being speculated that the spring in query might need been a part of the preliminary Gen3 part catalog provided by Spark, the chassis provider, earlier than the automobiles’ official debut, and was eliminated solely later, unbeknownst to Porsche.
This might probably clarify why it remained on da Costa’s automobile.
The stewards have been unequivocal of their determination. No matter any potential efficiency benefit, they dominated that da Costa’s automobile “needs to be disqualified”, arguing that the last word accountability for making certain compliance with the rules lies with the competing group.
Whereas the disqualification is a serious setback, Porsche is at the moment contemplating submitting an attraction. The group has opted to stay silent in the interim however is predicted to launch an official assertion tomorrow morning outlining their place.
With da Costa’s disqualification at Misano, the victory falls to Rowland and to the Nissan group, marking the Briton’s first triumph in Method E since his sole win within the all-electric sequence in Berlin in 2020.
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