The FIA International Court of Appeal met on Wednesday 1 December to consider the appeal made by the RACB on behalf of Prospeed Competition regarding the exclusion of the nr61 Porsche 911 GT3 R of Marco Holzer and Paul van Splunteren from first place in the final round of the FIA GT3 European Championship at Zolder on Sunday 10 October.

At the post race scrutineering of the GT3 event held in Zolder (Belgium), the FIA Technical Delegate found that the weight of the rear brake disks of car N°61 (Prospeed Competition) was not in compliance with the homologation documents of the car.  The Stewards of the Meeting decided to exclude car N°61 from the results of race N°2.

The Court, after having heard the parties and examined their submissions, decided to:
• confirm the decision of the Stewards with respect to the finding that car N°61 of Prospeed Competition did not comply with its homologation form, and
• in light of the mitigating circumstances, annul the sanction of exclusion imposed by the Stewards and substitute it with a fine in the amount of Euros 10,000 upon the Appellant.

The decision reinstates the nr61 Porsche in first place, giving the Prospeed Competition team a total of 37 points for the final race, with the Belgian team finishing on 202 points, 10 points ahead of Callaway Competition.  Marco Holzer and Paul van Splunteren are also confirmed as the 2010 FIA GT3 European Vice Champions and also the Porsche Manufacturer Cup winners.

Prospeed Competition Team Principle Rudi Penders said: “This is a sensitive problem for all teams. In this case, an administrative error occurred in the homologation procedure. As a team, we have no influence and no control on such a procedure. And we are the ones to be sanctioned. Furthermore, the expulsion is a tough penalty: the team is not cheating and has made no mistake. We would be happy if a solution could be found between the FIA and the manufacturer. Anyhow, I’m proud of our performances and of our results because ProSpeed Competition has deserved them on the racetrack.”

CLICK HERE for the Final Championship Positions