![\"\u2018Massive](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/026-Allen-EV08-10153-MH7_7180.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKai Allen at the Perth Super440. Image: Supplied <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKai Allen at the Perth Super440. Image: Supplied <\/p>\n
Allen escaped punishment despite tyre pressure monitoring sensors (TPMS) recording two of his tyres below the required 16 psi minimum while on the grid.<\/p>\n
While accepting the breaches occurred, Motorsport Australia stewards cited several mitigating factors in declaring that no penalty would be handed out.<\/a><\/p>\n That\u2019s driven a strong reaction from rivals given the standard penalty is disqualification.<\/p>\n In excusing the 15.959 psi (right-rear) and 15.786 psi\u00a0(right-front) readings, stewards noted there is an \u201cacknowledged TPMS accuracy of 0.4 psi\u201d.<\/p>\n Teams canvassed by Speedcafe noted they take potential inaccuracy of the sensors into account when setting their starting pressures.<\/p>\n The tyre pressure rule is essentially a safety regulation, stopping teams from risking tyre failures while chasing performance through low starting pressures.<\/p>\n Speaking on his Lucky Dogs Podcast, Dick Johnson Racing\u2019s Brodie Kostecki claimed Allen gained an advantage from Grove Racing\u2019s conduct.<\/p>\n Kostecki said his team typically starts its pressures at 16.5 or 16.6 psi to ensure they do not dip below 16 while on the grid.<\/p>\n The 2023 champion said a 0.7 psi difference at ambient temperature equates to around a 1.7 psi difference in pressure during a race.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s probably three tenths a lap advantage, [or] two tenths a lap advantage,\u201d he claimed.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s huge because what the tyres actually race around to what we qualify them at is quite a big difference.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is quite a big performance advantage and I think a lot of people within the industry are shocked.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s opened a big can of worms.\u201d<\/p>\n Kostecki\u2019s quoting of 0.7 psi appears to be the difference between his own claimed starting pressure of 16.5 and Allen\u2019s recorded on-grid figure of 15.786 psi.<\/p>\n Stewards noted that all four of Allen\u2019s tyres were at 16.32 psi when he left the team garage, and were above 16 psi when the race began.<\/p>\n Triple Eight driver and podcast co-host Will Brown also said Allen had a \u201cmassive advantage\u2019 and declared his team is \u201cextremely unhappy\u201d about the lack of any penalty.<\/p>\n \u201cMe and [engineer] Andrew [Edwards] discussed on Sunday night before we flew out, let\u2019s just set our tyres at 16 psi,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe precedent has been set that if they drop to 15.7, [as long as] by the end of the formation lap [they\u2019re at the right pressure]\u2026.<\/p>\n \u201cSo we can start at 15.5 probably for the warm up lap and have 16.2, 16.3 for when the red lights go out.\u201d<\/p>\n Interestingly, Edwards was the race engineer for Nick Percat at Brad Jones Racing during a previous tyre pressure controversy at Hidden Valley in 2021.<\/p>\n In that instance, BJR reported to Supercars officials that two of its tyres had dipped below the minimum pressure while on the grid and were permitted to change them.<\/p>\n Stewards later stripped BJR of teams\u2019 championship points from the race but did not disqualify Percat on the grounds he did not race on the offending tyres.<\/a><\/p>\n At the following round Jake Kostecki, Brodie\u2019s cousin who was then driving for Matt Stone Racing, was disqualified from a race after his tyres dipped below the minimum while on the grid.<\/p>\n Supercars is yet to comment on its intention to appeal the stewards\u2019 decision, while Grove Racing said it is surprised to hear of Supercars\u2019 actions.<\/a><\/p>\n