Pit breach penalty drops PremiAir in teams' championship

PremiAir Racing has been fined and docked teams' championship points over a pit lane breach in Perth.

James Golding finished 13th and 14th, and Richie Stanaway 24th and 17th, in Saturday's two races at the Bosch Power Tools Perth Super 440.

In a stewards report released after the second race on Saturday, which was won by Broc Feeney, it was revealed that PremiAir had been penalised.

The Chevrolet team had been found to have breached Rule D11.1.3.3, where during pit stops, teams are required to position the ongoing tyres located on the fast lane side of the car, within the area between the axle centre lines of the car pitting.

According to the report, Supercars pit lane personnel observed and reported that PremiAir team members had set up for a stop and had placed the new tyres located on the fast lane side of the car outside the area between the axle centre lines.

It's a similar breach to that incurred by Tickford Racing and Dick Johnson Racing at last year's Gold Coast event.

The sanctions proved costly for PremiAir, which dropped below Team 18 in the teams' championship as a result of the points penalty. It was a cruel footnote on a race which was PremiAir's 100th since its debut in 2022.

The stewards report reads:

Fact: Supercars Pit Lane personnel observed and reported that PremiAir team members setup for a pit stop and had placed the ongoing tyres located on the fast lane side of the car outside the area between the axle centre lines.

Rule: D11.1.3.3 a) During Pit Stops at all Events (except Endurance Events), Teams are required to position the ongoing tyres located on the fast lane side of the Car, within the area between the axle centre lines of the Car pitting.

Decision: Loss of 30 Teams Championship Points and a Fine of $1,500

Reason: The Stewards received and examined a Stewards Referral and Charge Sheet from the Deputy Race Director, which contains a signed admission by the Competitor’s Authorised Representative of a breach of the Rule and for a proposed penalty.

The Stewards accept the admission of the breach by the Competitor and consider that the proposed penalty is appropriate for this breach.

The Competitor is reminded that Decisions and Penalties that may be subject to Appeal are set out in B7.7.2 and the Rights to and process for an Appeal are set out in B5.

Supercars action resumes in Perth on Sunday with Boost Mobile Qualifying at 11:00am local/1:00pm AEST, which sets the running order for the Boost Mobile Top Ten Shootout at 1:05pm local/3:05pm AEST. The weekend concludes with Race 16 at 3:15pm local/5:15pm AEST.