30/07/2006
NEWS STORY
Both Midland cars have been disqualified from today's German Grand Prix following post-race inspection.
Christijan Albers and Tiago Monteiro finished thirteenth and fourteenth, but post race scrutineering of their cars revealed that the: Left hand side and right hand side lower rear wing elements showed excessive flexibility and are therefore not in compliance with Article 3.15 of the 2006 FIA Formula One Technical Regulations.
The technical delegate issued a report to the race stewards, who subsequently issued the following statement:
"The Stewards, after hearing from the Technical Delegate, examining the wing of each car and hearing the explanation of the competitor's technical director referred to article 2.4 of the 2006 FIA Formula One Technical Regulations which is specific regarding the compliance of automobiles with the regulations.
"It is the Stewards' view that the cars did not comply with the regulations because the lower wing element on both sides of each car have a significant degree of flexibility such that the rear part of the wing appears to bend in a downward direction along a straight predetermined line. Such a line appears to be attributable to a break in the carbon fibre weave and not to continuous flexing of the wing.
"The Stewards consider this to be a breach of 2006 FIA Formula One Technical Regulations relating to bodywork, in particular article 3.15 which requires parts of the car that influence its aerodynamic performance to be rigidly secured to and remain immobile in relation to the unsprung part of the car."
The Russian owned team will have the right to appeal.
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