The RACB Sport National Court of Appeal has decided that the disqualification of the Barcelona season finale race winning #4 Mercedes-AMG Team Black Falcon Mercedes AMG GT3 should be rescinded in favour of a financial penalty against the team.
Their decision, after Black Falcon appealed against their exclusion from the 30 September event, means that the team take the Drivers Championship for Maro Engel, Yelmer Buurman and Luca Stolz – provisional Endurance Champion Raffaele Marciello loses the Endurance crown but retains both his Sprint Cup and Overall Championship laurels.
The issue arose after the car was discovered, post-race to have self-adhesive tape placed at its air-intake. This was not in accordance with the car’s FIA homologation and was deemed a potential performance advantage.
In their decision, the RACB Sport National Court of Appeal upheld the infringement and the findings of the Technical Delegate but ruled that the disqualification of the #4 Mercedes-AMG Team Black Falcon car should be withdrawn and a fine be imposed instead.
As such, the team will be subject to a fine of €5,000 and reinstated in the results. Black Falcon has accepted this and will not appeal the decision further.
The full judgement is attached below.
