The four-hour European Le Mans Series race in Imola, Italy, ended with a sensational victory for Robert Kubica and his Orlen Team AO by TF. All because he and his partners Louis Deletraz and Jonny Edgar finished second, but were awarded victory after the race.
All because the driver of the first Panis Racing accelerated too quickly during yellow flags. For Charles Milesi's irregular action, a 35-second penalty was added to the winners' time. “Orlen Team AO by TF wins four-hour race at Imola” – the organizers of the entire series wrote after the judges' decision.
Robert Kubica robbed? Rivals appeal penalty
Almost three weeks have passed since the Imola race, so Kubica and his partners from Orlen Team AO by TF have certainly had time to get used to the triumph. Behind the scenes, however, the results of the competition were still being decided. All because of the protest that Panis Racing filed against the penalty they were given.
The stewards reviewed the situation again after the drivers and members of the injured team gave their explanations. It turned out that the actual speed of Milesi's car was lower than the ELMS devices had recorded.
“Due to this particular case and the inconsistencies in the data and the nature of the alleged breach, the stewards are unable to fully prove the offence,” the referee's note thundered after re-examining the situation.
In connection with this, the official ELMS profile has announced that the victory has been awarded to the Panis Racing team again. “Panis Racing has been reinstated among the winners of the Imola race after the 35-second time penalty imposed after the end of the race was lifted,” we read.
Kubica and his Orlen Team AO by TF have once again dropped to second place. Additionally, the Pole's team is no longer the vice-leader of the general classification and is now in third place, six points behind the leaders.