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.
Nonetheless, 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 laws.
The controversy lies within the origin of the half. In line with Porsche, the spring has been unchanged on da Costa’s automobile because the 2022-23 season, the inaugural 12 months for the Gen3 laws.
Studies from Misano recommend that whereas the spring was authorized underneath the earlier Gen2 laws, it seems to have been excluded underneath the up to date Gen3 ruleset.
“The [Porsche] staff supervisor [James Lindesay] acknowledged that on the Spark record [of optional items] the sealed half shouldn’t be listed,” acknowledged the stewards’ verdict.
“He defined that usually modifications of the Spark catalogue are highlighted so everyone can see the modifications.
“The representatives of Spark [Jeremy Boudot and Pierre Prunin] confirmed that this half was listed on the half record of the Gen2 races, however not on the present Gen3 automobile. Additionally they confirmed that the removing of components from that catalogue shouldn’t be highlighted nor canceled.”
It’s being speculated that the spring in query may need been a part of the preliminary Gen3 element catalog supplied by Spark, the chassis provider, earlier than the automobiles’ official debut, and was eliminated solely later, unbeknownst to Porsche.
This might doubtlessly clarify why it remained on da Costa’s automobile.
The stewards had been unequivocal of their resolution. No matter any potential efficiency benefit, they dominated that da Costa’s automobile “must be disqualified”, arguing that the last word accountability for making certain compliance with the laws lies with the competing staff.
Whereas the disqualification is a significant setback, Porsche is at the moment contemplating submitting an enchantment. The staff has opted to stay silent in the interim however is anticipated 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 staff, 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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