Kai Allen avoided disqualification from Sunday's Perth finale
Penrite Racing driver, team avoided penalties over alleged breach
Allen remains fifth in final race classification, fifth in points
A series of mitigating circumstances have ensured Kai Allen avoided disqualification from Sunday's Perth finale.
It emerged during the race that Allen's Ford was under investigation over a possible breach. It was later confirmed that neither Allen and Penrite Racing would receive no penalties.
Per the Motorsport Australia stewards report, it was alleged a breach of D17.1.18, as the tyre pressures in two of the tyres were detected to be below the minimum prescribed pressure of 16psi.
MA stewards accepted the breaches had occurred, but acknowledged mitigating factors, determining that no penalties be applied to driver or team.
Notably, the report claims that the readings were within the known 0.4psi accuracy tolerance of the sensors, and that the tyres were above the minimum pressure at the start of the race.
Allen held onto fifth in the race, and fifth in the championship, as a result. A non-score would have moved Team 18 driver Anton De Pasquale ahead into fifth overall, while costing Penrite Racing valuable teams' points.
The stewards report reads: "The Stewards summoned and heard from the Authorised Team Representative and Engineer and Supercars Technical Manager.
"Supercars alleged a breach of D17.1.18 as the tyre pressures in two of the tyres of Car 26 were detected to be below the minimum prescribed pressure of 16psi; front right 15.959psi, and rear right 15.786psi as measured by the tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) which was the method of measurement prescribed by the Rules.
"By the terms of D17.1.18 and 17.1.19, the readings from the TPMS stand as proof of the tyre pressures. It follows that the breaches are proved as alleged.
"Although the Rules operate strictly, there are mitigating circumstances.
"The Team asserted, and it was accepted by Supercars Technical, that all of Car 26’s tyres were inflated to a pressure of 16.32 psi when the Car left the Team pit garage on the reconnaissance lap to the grid.
"When the Car arrived at the grid the tyre pressures were all approximately 17 psi. When the Car left the grid on the formation lap the front right tyre pressure was 15.959 psi and the rear right tyre pressure was 15.786 psi as measured by the TPMS.
"While on the grid the right side tyres were in shade. In contrast, the left side tyres were in the sun with TMPS-measured pressures of at least 17.6psi.
"The front right and the rear right tyre pressures both measured above 16 psi within 5 and 17 seconds, respectively, of the Car leaving the grid on the formation lap.
"The data taken by the TPMS included temperature readings. The fall in temperature of the rear right tyre did not correspond with the fall in its pressure while on the grid, which suggests that another variable, such as a slow leak, may have been in play.
"The pressures on the right side tyres were under the minimum pressure by a small margin, especially in light of the acknowledged TPMS accuracy of 0.4 psi, and for only a short time. All tyres were above the minimum pressure at the start of the race.
"The TPMS generates readings while the Car is moving, and while it will produce data for a short time after the Car becomes stationary, the system will quickly cease reading the tyre pressures.
"Once the Car was on the grid, the TPMS didn’t produce any data for about 20 minutes until the Car then proceeded on its formation lap.
"Over that time the Team were, by the Rules, prohibited from testing or adjusting the tyre pressures.
As already observed, the Team inflated the tyres to 16.32 psi to accommodate cooling while the Car was stationary on the grid. That was a reasonable action. Further, by the time the low pressures were discovered, remedy was beyond the power of the Team.
"By operation of the Rules, Supercars has proved the breach. However, having regard to all the circumstances in this case the Stewards elect to take no further action."
