FIA confirms – Safety car had no permission

The FIA World Touring Car Championship organization confirmed today what TouringCarTimes.com reported two days ago: The safety car driver did not have permission to exit the pits.
“The investigation ascertained that, although the FIA Race Director had started the safety car procedure alerting the marshals for waving the yellow flags and showing the SC boards, the safety car driver had not been given the go,” said an official statement from the FIA WTCC organisation.

“He left the pit lane on his own, steering in the middle of the track instead of using the acceleration lane.”

No blame is put on Franz Engstler who was unable to avoid the safety car, but crashed straight in to it and retired from leading the race.

“The data logged by the ECU of Engstler’s BMW showed that he actually slowed down and braked as he saw the yellow flags and SC boards on the main straight.”

Instead the panel of Stewards of the race recommends sanctions against the officials in charge of the safety car during the race at Pau.

“The Stewards, taking into account the gravity of the facts, decided to forward their report to the FFSA (French sporting authority), recommending to take appropriate sanctions against Philippe Cholet and Jean-Pierre Colas who were in charge for the safety car and any other responsible official.”

Click here to see a video of the crash!