“Ferrari’s Last-Ditch Appeal Crushed: Court Shuts Down Challenge to Controversial WEC Spa Race Outcome!”

The International Court of Appeal (ICA) has rejected Ferrari’s bid to overturn the outcome of the World Endurance Championship’s Six Hours of Spa. Ferrari initially protested the stewards’ decision to resume the interrupted race for its full remaining duration. The protest was dismissed by the stewards in May, who clarified that their decisions are not subject to appeal.

 

During today’s hearing, submissions were made by Ferrari, its competitors JOTA Porsche and Penske Porsche, and the FIA. The ICA upheld the stewards’ ruling, emphasizing that the International Sporting Code prohibits appeals against stewards’ decisions.

 

Ferrari’s original protest challenged “the decision of the stewards number 71 and against the provisional classification.” Document 71 had stipulated that the race would resume for one hour and 44 minutes after a nearly two-hour suspension for barrier repairs following a crash.

 

The court noted in its conclusion: “The appellant confirmed before the stewards that ‘the protest is [lodged] against the decision of the stewards number 71 and consequently against the provisional classification.”

 

“After thoroughly reviewing articles 13.2.1 and 13.7 of the code, the court finds that a decision of the stewards cannot be protested.”

 

Ferrari contended that the race extension led to a total duration of seven hours and 44 minutes, which disadvantaged its cars since they were in a stronger position at the six-hour mark when the race was originally scheduled to end.

 

In response, FIA representatives argued that “when a race is interrupted, the red flag period cannot be considered part of the race duration,” and that “since no official report indicates a race duration beyond six hours, the appellant cannot claim that the race lasted seven hours and 44 minutes.” They also highlighted that the WEC stewards were granted the authority to amend race time after the 2013 Fuji round, which was heavily impacted by rain and ran entirely behind the Safety Car.

 

The hearing was moved from Paris to Geneva to avoid a scheduling conflict with the Paralympic Games, and WEC race director Eduardo Freitas participated via videoconference.