Vaillante Rebellion’s No. 13 Oreca 07 Gibson has been disqualified following post-race technical inspection at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The car was found to have modified bodywork on the engine cover in the form of a hole cut, which could help aid mechanics in restarting the car after pit stops and with starter issues having popped up earlier.
Here’s the formal release from the ACO:
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During the post-race technical checks, certain irregularities were detected on the Vaillante Rebellion team’s #13 Oreca 07-Gibson, resulting in the car’s disqualification from the 2017 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Two infractions were noted by the technical marshals:
- Modification to the body, found to be in technical non-compliance (decision of the stewards #58)
- Unauthorized intervention in the closed park after the race (decision of the stewards #59)
The Vaillante Rebellion has confirmed its intention to file an appeal with the officials.
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This disqualification causes a change to the overall classification for the 2017 24 Hours of Le Mans. Jackie Chan DC Racing’s second car, the #37 driven by Cheng-Gommendy-Brundle, now claims the third step on the podium just behind its sister car, the #38, and the #2 Porsche 919 Hybrid.
With the car in breach of regulations, the No. 13 car shared by Nelson Piquet Jr., Mathias Beche and David Heinemeier Hansson has now lost second place in LMP2 and third place overall.
DHH posted a couple tweets below; the team added it would have more to say once the investigation was complete.
— DHH Racing (@dhhracing) June 19, 2017
Comic book race provides a final, brutal twist. https://t.co/GUHBT6aOSB
— DHH Racing (@dhhracing) June 19, 2017
We have been informed of the WEC stewards decision and will publish a press release once our investigation done.
— REBELLION Racing (@RebellionRacing) June 19, 2017
Jackie Chan DC Racing now finishes 1-2 in LMP2 and 2-3 overall, the No. 37 Oreca of David Cheng, Tristan Gommendy and Alex Brundle the beneficiary, while Signatech Alpine’s No. 35 Alpine A470 of Nelson Panciatici, Pierre Ragues and Andre Negrao gets an LMP2 podium after all despite Negrao’s late off-course excursion at Arnage corner.