15/03/2006
NEWS STORY
Contrary to a previous report, an A1 GP source has denied reports that race director, Tim Schenken, has been fired following last weekend's race at Laguna Seca.
The claim, which first originated in the Dutch media, was said to relate to an incident involving Team Netherlands driver, Jos Verstappen, who, having had a torrid time in the Sprint race, was given two drive-through penalties in the Feature race. One was for overtaking under a yellow flag, while the second was for speeding in the pitlane whilst serving the first penalty. Verstappen subsequently climbed out of his car and stormed off in obvious disgust.
However, Pitpass reader, Steven Jardine, who attended the race, wrote of the first penalty: "I was standing right when the pass was made under the yellow at the A1 and we all commented on it."
Schenken will not be on duty for the final round of the A1 GP series at Shanghai on April 2, as he will be carrying out his duties as Clerk of the Course in Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix. However, he is scheduled to return as A1 Race Director when the 2006 series gets underway later this year.