Honda appeal set to affect the results in Germany this weekend

Following on from the decision by the FIA stewards to exclude Honda from the last two events due to an allegedly illegal flat floor, Honda have launched an appeal to protest the decision, which is set to encompass future events of the World Touring Car Championship as well.

Honda have stated they categorically disagree with the stewards decision, which was made late on Thursday night at the Nürburgring, saying: “We are totally convinced that our flat floors are in full compliance with the current FIA World Touring Car Championship technical regulations.

“Appeals will therefore be lodged against all decisions.”

The FIA issued a statement explaining their decision, which followed an earlier statement at the Hungaroring in which the stewards declared the Hondas cleared to race until the FIA technical delegate Manuel Leal’s investigation was complete.

“The three-person panel of stewards, which convened at the Nürburgring Nordschleife yesterday (26 May) under the authority of Article 11.9.2.s of the International Sporting Code, reviewed the post-competition technical reports, prepared by the FIA technical delegate, from both events and also heard submissions from representatives of both entrants.

“They concluded that sections of the flat floor from car numbers 5 (Norbert Michelisz, Honda Racing Team JAS), 12 (Rob Huff, Honda Racing Team JAS), 18 (Tiago Monteiro, Honda Racing Team JAS) and 55 (Ferenc Ficza, Zengő Motorsport) did not comply with the technical regulations of the 2016 FIA World Touring Car Championship and excluded all four cars from the two events.”

Honda are understood to be continuing to compete with their current components, which will mean the legality of the Honda Civic is set to be challenged again after qualifying, with the results of qualifying and this weekend’s races at the Nürburgring also set to be kept provisional subject to the team’s appeal.

The official championship standings will remain unchanged until the appeal is heard, but should Honda be excluded from the last two events, José María López would now lead the championship on 154 points, with Sébastien Loeb Racing’s Mehdi Bennani now his closest challenger on 99, with Citroën team-mate Yvan Muller third on 92.

Tiago Monteiro, presently second in the standings, would fall to fourth on 77 points, exactly half of López’s tally, with Norbert Michelisz and Rob Huff dropping from third and fourth to sixth and ninth respectively.