Ferrari AF Corse Appeal Rejected, Spa WEC Race Result Stands

Sept. 10, 2024, 6:30 p.m. Sports

Ferrari AF Corse Appeal Rejected, Spa WEC Race Result Stands

Ferrari's AF Corse team has had their appeal rejected by the FIA following the recent World Endurance Championship (WEC) race at Spa. The decision to uphold the race result means that the victory of the Porsche #92 team will stand, despite controversy surrounding the race outcome.

The race at Spa-Francorchamps was a closely fought battle from start to finish, with the AF Corse Ferrari team of Alessandro Pier Guidi and James Calado initially crossing the line in first place. However, their victory was called into question following post-race inspections, which revealed irregularities with the fuel system of the Ferrari 488 GTE Evo.

The FIA stewards determined that the AF Corse team had breached the regulations by exceeding the maximum fuel flow rate during the race. This violation led to the imposition of a time penalty of 49.242 seconds on the Ferrari, dropping them down to second place in the final classification. The penalty elevated the Porsche #92 team of Kevin Estre and Neel Jani to first place, securing the victory for the German manufacturer.

In response to the penalty, the AF Corse team lodged an appeal with the FIA, claiming that the fuel irregularities were unintentional and did not provide them with a competitive advantage during the race. The team argued that the penalty imposed was too severe given the circumstances and called for a review of the decision.

However, the FIA's International Court of Appeal has now confirmed that it has upheld the original decision of the race stewards, rejecting the appeal from AF Corse. The court determined that the fuel flow regulations are in place to ensure a level playing field for all competitors and that any breach of these regulations, intentional or not, must be penalized accordingly.

The decision to uphold the race result has sparked mixed reactions within the motorsport community, with some supporting the FIA's stance on enforcing the regulations, while others sympathize with the AF Corse team. The case highlights the fine margins in professional motorsport and the importance of adhering to the strict technical regulations set by the governing body.

For AF Corse, the rejected appeal means that they must now accept their second-place finish at Spa and focus on the upcoming races in the WEC calendar. The team will undoubtedly be looking to bounce back and showcase their competitiveness in future events, while also ensuring that they operate within the boundaries of the regulations to avoid any further controversies.

As for Porsche, the upheld victory at Spa represents a significant achievement for the manufacturer, reaffirming their competitive prowess in the GTE class of the WEC. The team will now be aiming to build on this success and maintain their momentum in the championship battle against rival manufacturers.

Overall, the rejected appeal by Ferrari AF Corse serves as a reminder of the importance of compliance with the technical regulations in motorsport and the consequences of any breaches. The decision to uphold the race result at Spa sets a precedent for fair play and serves as a warning to all teams that the FIA will not hesitate to penalize any violations of the rules, regardless of intent.