James Courtney loses podium after lap one clash

James Courtney has been stripped of his podium finish in the second race of the weekend at Albert Park after being found at fault for an incident on the opening lap.

Courtney had crossed the line in second spot behind Brodie Kostecki but was under investigation for a clash at turn one with David Reynolds on the opening lap that saw his rival beached in the gravel.

After the investigation took place, Courtney was hit with a 30 second time penalty that drops him all the way down to 22nd in the results, promoting Shane van Gisbergen to second and putting Broc Feeney on the podium.

James Golding also lost a top ten finish over a pit lane breach, being handed a 15 second penalty for an unsafe release that put him down to 21st place, with Mark Winterbottom and Declan Fraser both moving into the top ten as a result of the penalties ahead.

Todd Hazelwood had earlier been excluded from Thursday’s opening race for a technical infringement, and sent to the back of the grid for race two.