The Zach Bates/Aaron Seton Camaro at The Bend. Image: InSyde Media
Supercars rules require a working system to ensure officials have evidence in case of an on-track incident.
Unfortunately for MSR, the only incident to be the subject of a post-race investigation was Zach Bates’ hit on Ben Gomersall.
Bates had submitted in the incident hearing that he touched Gomersall’s left-rear only after the Tickford wildcard had a “small moment” of his own.
Stewards, however, were left to issue a 15 second penalty on the basis there was no onboard footage to back-up Bates’ assertion.
That penalty dropped the car shared by Bates and Aaron Seton from 13th to 16th in the overall result.
“There was no judicial camera footage available from car 10 to make good the driver of car 10’s position,” read a stewards’ report.
“The external footage was inconclusive as to whether car 5 had a ‘moment’ and the driver of car 5 denied that he had.
“On the evidence available to the stewards, the stewards were comfortably satisfied that car 5 spun due to minor contact from car 10 – contact to which the driver of car 5 did not contribute and which was avoidable.”
The camera issue added a twist to an already somewhat awkward clash, given Ben’s father Jason Gomersall is a co-owner and long-time supporter of MSR.
Zach Bates. Image: Richard Gresham
Stewards later spared MSR further penalty following a seperate hearing regarding the fact the camera was not working.
According to the decision document, MSR’s representative told that hearing the team was unaware and not sure why only its driver-facing camera was not operational.
“The authorised representative wasn’t sure if the wet weather conditions or a power supply to the system had contributed to a partial functional camera system,” read the document.
“They had checked the system prior to the race confirming power and operation. The camera telemetry showed spiking in the voltage to the camera, the timing of which corresponded with a downpour of rain during the race.
“Without the forward facing vision, the team representative and driver were unable at an earlier judicial hearing to present meaningful vision to demonstrate and substantiate their defence to an allegation of a driving infringement involving car 5, as a result of which a 15 second time penalty was imposed on car 10.
“Having regard to the fact that the camera system was powered and activated at all times, an SD card was installed as required and for reasons apparently beyond the control of the team the system was partly but not fully functioning, and having further regard to the fact that this was the first infringement of this kind committed by the team this championship, consistent with earlier decisions involving breaches of a similar nature, the stewards determined to impose a penalty of a warning on the competitor rather than a fine.”
Bates currently sits 18th in the drivers’ championship standings, the third of five rookies, while MSR is eighth among the 11 two-car teams.