The Mercedes-AMG Team Black Falcon car of Maro Engel, Yelmer Buurman and Luca Stolz, which claimed the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup title with a narrow victory at the final race of the season at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Sunday (30th September), has been disqualified pending an appeal.
Race stewards have made the decision to disqualify the Mercedes-AMG Team Black Falcon from the final race of the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup, which took place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Sunday (30th September).
According to the stewards inquiry, a black tape is said to have been present on the air inlet tract of the car.
Black Falcon Mercedes claimed that this has been normal practice for the team and no performance advantage was gained.
However, the stewards considered that the practice represents a technical non-compliance and, therefore, a breach of the sport’s rules.
The team has taken the decision to appeal the disqualification.
It means the results of the Barcelona race, and overall championship standings, remain provisional until the appeal has been heard.
The Black Falcon Mercedes, driven by Maro Engel, Yelmer Buurman and Luca Stolz, had battled through several safety car periods and held off their main rivals to claim a victory which would also have sealed Endurance Cup honours.
“Big, big thanks to Black Falcon. They gave us an amazing AMG GT3 today (Sunday). (It was) just a pleasure to drive it and, yeah, our first outright win. It feels really good and it definitely came at the right time.”
Raffaele Marciello in his Mercedes-AMG Team PRO Akka started sixth, and eventually made his way up to second.
But he failed to reel in the Black Falcon Mercedes – even so, the runners-up spot ensured Marciello had won the overall Blancpain GT Series title to sit alongside his Sprint Cup crown claimed at the Nurburgring earlier in September.
However, with the investigation into the Black Falcon Mercedes’ race performance, all results will remain provisional at the moment until the team’s appeal has been considered. SNTV
