Porsche Penske Motorsport’s #5 963 will start tomorrow’s FIA WEC race at Spa-Francorchamps from pole position after changes made to the final classification following post-qualifying scrutineering.
The post-qualifying checks determined that the #50 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P, driven by Antonio Fuoco in Hyperpole, was found not to comply with the minimum car weight. As such it has lost its pole position and will start the race from the back of the Hypercar grid.
“After having checked the Technical Delegate report, the Stewards considered the minimum car weight did not comply with the relevant regulations. Consequently, the Stewards decided to impose the disqualification of car 50 of the qualifying and Hyperpole sessions and the deletion of the lap time of these sessions,” the official stewards’ bulletin read.
This means that Matt Campbell’s 2:03.107 is the new pole time and the #2 Cadillac Racing V-Series.R has been promoted to the second space on the front row.
It also sees Penske Motorsport score a 100th pole position in their Sportscar racing history.
Ferrari responded to the news:
“Following post-qualifying and Hyperpole scrutineering at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the Ferrari 499P number 50 was found to be around 1 kg under the minimum weight mandated by regulations.
“After a collision with another car during FP3, the 499P number 50’s damaged rear end had to be replaced with a new component, which led to the weight discrepancy discovered on Friday evening.”
In LMGT3, United Autosports’ #95 McLaren which qualified second was also found to have been underweight and will start from the back of the grid as a result.
The Iron Dames Lamborghini will therefore start from class pole with the #46 Team WRT BMW M4 LMGT3 promoted to second on the grid.
“We accept the findings of the FIA and ACO and will investigate fully,” United Autosports said in a statement responding to the penalty.
