Triple Eight to protest James Courtney’s inclusion in the shootout

Triple Eight Race Engineering have announced their intention to protest the inclusion of the #22 Holden Racing Team entry of James Courtney/Greg Murphy in the top ten shootout, following the withdrawal of Garth Tander/Warren Luff’s car following a crash in practice.

Warren Luff had collided with the #888 Triple Eight of Craig Lowndes, with both cars suffering substantial damage in the morning’s practice session. HRT have been forced to withdraw the #2 car due to damage to the rollcage, while Triple Eight are working furiously to repair Lowndes’ car for the shootout, with the #1 car already set to start 23rd on the grid after Jamie Whincup crashed out in qualifying yesterday.

The officials have said the withdrawal of Tander/Luff will elevate Courtney/Murphy to tenth position and allow them to take part in this afternoon’s shootout, but Triple Eight team principal Roland Dane believes this is in breach of the regulations and will file a protest.

“We have alerted them (V8 Supercars) that we will protest if it (car 22) runs,” said Dane to v8supercars.com.

“The shootout will be regarded as a qualifying session for those drivers who achieve the 10 fastest time in qualifying,” he quoted from the regulations.

“He (Courtney) didn’t, he’s not eligible,” Dane added. “The fact another car is no longer able to take part in it is irrelevant.

“I don’t care about the TV show from this point of view. We have a set of rules and that is what we run to.

“So the minute we start doing this and having world wrestling federation we might as well go home.

“If they try and change the rule on the run then we will protest.

“That says to me we as a championship are willing to make it up as we go along.”

Article 6.4.2 of the V8 Supercars Operations Manual states:

6.4.2 The shootout will be regarded as a qualifying session for those Drivers who achieve the ten (10) fastest times in qualifying.

The only exceptions covered under the sporting regulations is if a qualifying session has not taken place, with it therefore ambiguous as to what occurs if a car that sets a time within the top ten in qualifying is subsequently withdrawn before the shootout.

6.5.1 If, due to exceptional circumstances a qualifying session cannot be completed, the
stewards may allocate grid positions according to practice session times or by other
criteria.