OFFICIAL NOTICE: Formula Drift Post-Race Technical Inspection Report
During the routine post-race technical inspection, which first began during Round 4 at Evergreen Speedway, on September 8, 2007 at Round 6 of the Formula Drift Championship event at Wall Speedway, it was determined that the #2 car, driven by Rhys Millen was not in compliance with the 2007 Formula Drift Rules & Regulations.
Upon inspection by the Formula Drift Technical Manager, it was determined that the #2 car did not have functioning brake lights as required in Section 8.5 of the series rules, which read: Section 8.5 Electrical Systems … Brake lights, tail lights (rain lights), reverse lights, and hazard lights must function normally. During the course of the investigation, Formula Drift Officials were able to determine that the brake lights were operable during Pre-Event technical inspection on the morning of Friday September 7, 2007 and that they were working earlier in the day of Saturday September 8, 2007, prior to the Qualifying round as witnessed by a Formula Drift Official.
Team RMR was immediately notified following the post-race technical inspection by Formula Drift Chief Steward of the initial findings and was told a penalty would be assessed upon further detail review.
Formula Drift attempted to determine if there were any extenuating circumstances such as an impact or other incident that would have rendered the brake lights inoperable. Upon review of the footage of every scored run made by the #2 car including all qualifying runs, it was determined that the brake lights were never operable during Top-16 Tandem/Head-to-Head competition.
In addition, Formula Drift rulebook Section 6.3 states: Section 6.3 Damage …It is the responsibility of the team to notify the TECHNICAL MANAGER of any or all damage. As a result of a detailed review and the team’s appeal, the #2 car will be assessed a 17 point penalty and a fine for a rulebook infraction of Section 8.5; Electrical System.
Well there you have it boys n’ girls.
Comment by wtf — September 14, 2007 #
Well there you have it…Let the truth be told!
Comment by wtf — September 14, 2007 #
I call shenanigans!
The Full section 6.3:
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6.3 DAMAGE
If there is damage to the chassis of the vehicle, the annual tech sticker shall be removed from the vehicle. A new tech sticker may be issued after the vehicle is re-inspected or repaired and then re-inspected. It is the responsibility of the team to notify the TECHNICAL MANAGER of any and all damage.
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This rule is vague at best and appears to state that the vehicle should have been re-inspected after the impact with Ross Petty. Read a bit further and you come across an escape clause that removes accountability from the TECH INSPECTOR. To me this is absurd. The car was damaged on track and could have been re-inspected at that time.
Issuing a retroactive penalty is absurd.
I have seen tech stickers removed from vehicles involved in impacts, for example Haruguchi’s car at Sonoma, why was this not done in this case?
Consistency is key to generating fan support, especially in a sport as highly subjective as drifting.
Comment by Geoffrey Chandler — September 14, 2007 #
it definately had to be the impact. rhys would never cheat.
Comment by Royce — September 14, 2007 #
well if he wouldn’t cheat why is he being fined… he cheated and got caught…. i don’t know if the wreck between him and ross was because he didn’t have lights or not but if i was ross i would be pissed.
Comment by josh — September 16, 2007 #
You know… If someone would’ve notified him DURING the competition, I’m sure his mechanics would’ve fixed it immediately. Instead they wait till it’s all said and done, costing him the most points possible. Seems messed up to me. Almost as if someone has it in for Rhys. I’m not a huge fan of Rhys. Gittin is my personal fav., but what they did to Rhys seems a bit unfair.
Comment by Ryan — September 16, 2007 #
1. Team RMR’s penalty is not about cheating. We made no statement about Rhys or his team of cheating. We simply found a rule infraction and a penalty needed to be assessed.
2. It is not FD’s part to look over every mechanical part of every race car on every run. That is the responsibility of the team. This is why they can call a “5 minute time out”. This is also why during the event we have random tech impounds as well as post-race inspections so that we can catch things such as technical violations (i.e. brake light, tires, etc.).
This type of action is not new in sports or motor sports. Look at Dale Earnhardt Jr. for being docked 100pts for cursing or McLaren F1 for being voided of their championship points as well as $100million in fines for taking stolen technical info from a Ferrari spy.
Comment by Jim @ FD — September 16, 2007 #
McLaren team it self was docked points and suspended but the drivers them self were allowed to keep there points. It isn’t fair to punish the drivers, punish the team, fine the team… suspend them… but dont punish a driver.
Comment by Cam — September 18, 2007 #
Cry about it!
Comment by Heather — September 18, 2007 #
you’re such a bully, Heather…
.. got a boyfriend?
Comment by Ryan — September 19, 2007 #
YES…I TRY NOT TO BE A BULLY;)
Comment by heather — September 20, 2007 #
don’t bother ryan…heather’s fat
Comment by anonymous o:) — September 21, 2007 #
Oh! Somoone drank some Haterade and don’t have the balls to sign their actual name….Your a real winner buddy. I guess I should feel powerful…..Powerful enough that some geek is afraid to leave his/her name!
Comment by Heather — September 23, 2007 #
im afraid that if i sign my real name you’ll sit on me :(
Comment by anonymous o:) — September 23, 2007 #
You are correct sir…That would scare you….You only like dudes sitting on your face!
Comment by heather — September 24, 2007 #
this is totally off subject….
Comment by demonic — October 6, 2007 #
they going race in hawaii marina may from hawaii i like tune up her booty
Comment by mike paahana — January 25, 2008 #
haha
Comment by DriftLive.com — January 25, 2008 #