Ferrari AF Corse has filed an appeal after its protest against the decision by race control to extend the FIA World Endurance Championship 6 Hours of Spa last month was rejected, RACER has learned.
The race ended in controversial circumstances. A huge incident on the Kemmel Straight involving three cars — the No. 2 Cadillac, No. 31 WRT BMW M4 and No. 99 Proton Porsche 963 — prompted a red flag due to the spread of debris and damage inflicted to the barriers and catch fencing.
After barrier repairs and a full clean-up, race control made the unprecedented decision to extend the race by the length of the red flag period. This proved hugely popular with fans trackside, as it set up a thrilling finale and a shock result: a maiden overall WEC win for Hertz Team JOTA’s No. 12 Porsche 963. However, Ferrari — which was running first and second in Hypercar with its factory 499Ps at the stoppage — was understandably aggrieved by the decision.
Because the No. 12 JOTA and No. 6 Penske Porsche 963s had pitted just before the incident, they were handed an advantage when the race resumed, as all the cars in front of them in the restart queue required pit stops for fuel. This included the two Ferraris, which eventually came home third and fourth.
It was a decision that Ferdinando Cannizzo, the head of endurance race cars at Ferrari, described as “questionable” post-race.
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“We feel a lot of regret because we believe the outcome should have been different,” he said.
Ferrari immediately protested the extension of the race, although this was quickly rejected by the stewards.
“The protest is not admissible based on the following: A Stewards’ decision can not be the subject of a protest under article 13.2.1 of FIA International Sporting Code,” the decision paperwork read.
That was not the end of the matter, though, as paddock sources revealed to RACER yesterday at Le Mans that an appeal process is underway. Ferrari has since confirmed this in a statement.
“Yes, we can confirm that we made an appeal shortly after the result of the protest came in,” a spokesperson from Ferrari told RACER.
Ferrari also explained that the matter will be dealt with by the FIA International Court of Appeal (the final appeal tribunal for international motorsport), with the result not expected to come through prior to the Le Mans 24 Hours next weekend.
On the other side of this, the FIA explained its decision to extend the race after the weekend: “The race session was not extended in duration, but resumed for a period of 1h44 minutes that was needed to make the necessary repairs and ensure the track is safe to race.
“1h44m corresponds to the length of the race remaining when the red flag was brought out minus 3 minutes (time from the red flag to the cars stopping on the grid).
“This solution ensures sporting fairness for the competitors, who set their strategies for a six-hour race. Cutting the race session short would mean that some competitors would gain, and others would lose as a result.”
The date for the final hearing and decision is not yet known.