Bennani punished for clash with D’Aste

Mehdi Bennani has been punished for the contact with Stefano D’Aste on the final lap of the second race, with D’Aste given back 11th and Bennani dropped to 18th position.

Wiechers-Sport driver D’Aste had dropped down the order after serving a drive-through penalty for being out of position on the grid at the start of the race, and had recovered to 11th by the final lap, with Moroccon-driver Mehdi Bennani close behind.

Bennani tried to pass D’Aste heading into the final corner which resulted in contact, Bennani went on to take 11th place, whilst D’Aste was able to continue to cross the line in 12th.

The stewards have placed the blame for the incident on the Proteam Racing driver, and handed Bennani a 30 second penalty which drops him down to 18th in the final placings, as well as a suspended 10 position grid drop for three races should be repeat the offence.

Bennani was also hit with another 30 second penalty for cutting the chicane in race one, which dropped him to 16th place and outside of the Yokohama Independents’ Trophy points positions.