Menu loses 7th place for dropping positions

Alain Menu has been given a 30-second penalty for deliberately dropping down the order in race one, in order to to gain a good starting position in race two.

With a penalty which defines firmly the FIA’s take on tactical manouvring for grid positions in the reverse grid system, Alain Menu’s drop from 3rd to 7th in the first race at Brands Hatch, with a suspect ‘problem’ which advantageously gave the Chevrolet drive a front row grid spot, has seen the Swiss driver handed a 30-second penalty, and effectively drops out of the points for race one.

As a result of his contact in race two with Augusto Farfus, Menu was unable to finish the race and so effectively scores no points this weekend.

The Swiss driver was found in breach of Article 151 of the FIA International Sporting Code, which orders penalties in cases of:
“Any fraudulent conduct or any act prejudicial to the
interests of any competition or to the interests of motor
sport generally”

As a result, Jordi Gené is promoted into the final points position of tenth, whilst Andy Priaulx, Tiago Monteiro and Norbert Michelisz also pick up additional championship points.

Menu was also in his last race under the threat of a penalty which was suspended, following contact with Norbert Michelisz at Monza, however this penalty was not applied due to the differing nature of the two incidents, and will lapse for the next round at Brno.