Source: Communiqué pf Steeve Marin
Team Apex-HBR racing is going in appeal of the Formula BMW series' decision of disqualifying their two drivers, Maxime Pelletier and Mikaël Grenier from last Saturday's race, at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.
"The situation seems very unclear to us. The team has nothing to be blame about and that's why we are going in appeal of the series decision" confirmed Peter Hillebrand, owner and head-engineer of Team Apex-HBR.
Both drivers had finished on the podium last Saturday. During Saturday's night however, the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) informed the team that the oil contained in both their drivers cars, analysed following the race, was illegal.
The race director than asked the team to wait for more information regarding the decision that would be taken before Sunday's race. The team was not informed that they could not change the oil in their drivers cars, so they did.
During this Sunday race, both drivers - even though the results ended up radically different from the first race - were quickest than the day before. The team was then informed, after Sunday's race, that after final analysis of Saturday's oil, it was found not conformed to the regulation and, therefore, that the team and their drivers were to be disqualified and lose their podium.
No details were given to the team regarding what exactly was not-conformed in their oil even when asked. The team immediately decided to take this decision into appeal and, following the IMSA rules, the series was advised on Tuesday the 10th of June.
"They were not able to provide the team with any specific reason why the oil was illegal. The team asked to know what was wrong with it. They also asked how exactly the series ended up with those results following analysis. Both questions were unanswered."
"Even more important: the team cannot understand how their drivers would have been even more quick on Sunday's race with a legal oil - since they had change the illegal one during night to put back the legal one." Explained M. André Lepage from Heenan Blaikie, representant of Team Amex-HBR.
The team think they can win this cause by the simple fact that the oil, as contaminated the series say it is, did not improved their drivers performance at all since they were fastest during Sunday's race, with an accepted oil.
Team Apex-HBR racing is going in appeal of the Formula BMW series' decision of disqualifying their two drivers, Maxime Pelletier and Mikaël Grenier from last Saturday's race, at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.
"The situation seems very unclear to us. The team has nothing to be blame about and that's why we are going in appeal of the series decision" confirmed Peter Hillebrand, owner and head-engineer of Team Apex-HBR.
Both drivers had finished on the podium last Saturday. During Saturday's night however, the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) informed the team that the oil contained in both their drivers cars, analysed following the race, was illegal.
The race director than asked the team to wait for more information regarding the decision that would be taken before Sunday's race. The team was not informed that they could not change the oil in their drivers cars, so they did.
During this Sunday race, both drivers - even though the results ended up radically different from the first race - were quickest than the day before. The team was then informed, after Sunday's race, that after final analysis of Saturday's oil, it was found not conformed to the regulation and, therefore, that the team and their drivers were to be disqualified and lose their podium.
No details were given to the team regarding what exactly was not-conformed in their oil even when asked. The team immediately decided to take this decision into appeal and, following the IMSA rules, the series was advised on Tuesday the 10th of June.
"They were not able to provide the team with any specific reason why the oil was illegal. The team asked to know what was wrong with it. They also asked how exactly the series ended up with those results following analysis. Both questions were unanswered."
"Even more important: the team cannot understand how their drivers would have been even more quick on Sunday's race with a legal oil - since they had change the illegal one during night to put back the legal one." Explained M. André Lepage from Heenan Blaikie, representant of Team Amex-HBR.
The team think they can win this cause by the simple fact that the oil, as contaminated the series say it is, did not improved their drivers performance at all since they were fastest during Sunday's race, with an accepted oil.