Tuesday 16 April 2019

STARD could face World RX fine over rules breach.

Janis Baumanis taking the jump at the 2019 World RX season opener in Abu Dhabi
PHOTO CREDIT: FIA World RX Media 
Team STARD is facing the prospect of a fine if they fail to present two cars of equal specification by the third race of the season in Belgium. 

The Austrian team expanded to a two-car team for the 2019 championship, with former FIA European Champion Janis Baumanis leading the way.

STARD developed an all-new Ford Fiesta RXS Evo 5 Supercar with the support of Ford Performance, which could bring the team strong results after a promising campaign last year.
Team STARD's garage - Baumanis supercar (left) and Pal Try (right)
PHOTO CREDIT: Tom Banks Photography.

Full-time STARD driver Baumanis will be partnered by multiple drivers in the 2019 season. Pal Try competed at the season opener in Abu Dhabi and will compete in two more rounds this season, while Jani Paasonen will compete in at least five rounds and Jere Kalliokoski in at least two.

Following World RX scrutineering in Abu Dhabi, the Stewards noted that STARD failed to enter two cars of the same make and model, which is a contravention of the FIA World Rallycross Sporting Regulations (Article 8.3): "....a team entered in the said Championship must always present two cars of the same make and model in each event of the Championship."

After consulting with the team. The Stewards took the decision that STARD "is not allowed to collect points in the Teams' classification and will be given a suspended penalty to pay a fine of 10,000 Euros, should they fail to present two cars of the same make and model at Race 3 (Belgium) of the FIA World RX Championship 2019."

Despite Janis Baumanis scoring 20 championship points, his team score zero. 

STARD was not available for comment and it remains unclear they will enter two cars of the same make or model by round 3 of the Championship. 

[Story will be updated should team issue a comment]

Source: FIA World Rallycross Championship Stewards. 
TEXT: Junaid Samodien

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