Photo: WTCR

13 drivers reprimanded for driving too slow

By

The penalty frenzy of the World Touring Car Cup weekend at Suzuka continues with 13 drivers receiving a reprimand, €500 fine and one penalty point to their license for driving too slow during qualifying.

Nicky Catsburg, Niels Langeveld, Kevin Ceccon, Ma Quing Hua, Jean-Karl Vernay, Gordon Shedden, Ritomo Miyata, Ryuichiro Tomita, Yvan Muller, Yann Ehrlacher, Andy Priaulx, Thed Björk and Néstor Girolami have all received reprimands.

Catsburg will also receive a ten-place grid drop as this is his third reprimand of which two are driving related.

The decision from the stewards read:

“Alleged driving unnecessarily slowly on the track in S2/S3 in Line Speed was 18-40 km/h.”

The previously announced penalties included a three-place grid drop in contrast to the reprimands, this as the stewards judged these infringements to be less severe.

The grid-drop penalties will be applied for the first race, with the final starting grid expected to be issued one hour before the start.