• Australian Grand Prix - Qualifying

HRT denied race entry due to 107% rule

ESPNF1 Staff
March 26, 2011 « Barrichello admits to 'silly' mistake | »
Both HRT cars made it out on to the track for qualifying, but were well off the pace © Sutton Images
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The FIA has refused to allow HRT to race in Sunday's Australian Grand Prix after both cars recorded times outside the 107% qualifying time.

Tonio Liuzzi's car stopped on track after four corners of final practice, and Narain Karthikeyan only managed five laps, so qualifying became more of a testing session for the team. With Sebastian Vettel setting the fastest lap time of the first qualifying session in 1:25.296, the 107% cut off time was set at 1:31.266, which both drivers failed to beat.

By the end of the session Liuzzi's best effort was 1.712 seconds outside the time, while Karthikeyan was 3.027 off. The FIA has the final decision on whether to enforce the ruling or not, in order to allow for exceptions such as when a driver does a competitive time during practice but is unable to do so during qualifying, or due to changeable weather conditions.

In this case HRT requested they be allowed to race but the FIA rejected the appeal.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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