Second place may be 'first of the losers' in motor racing parlance but, as Canadian Robert Wickens has discovered, some races have no winner either.
An appeal court in Frankfurt has upheld the disqualification of Swedish winner Mattias Ekstroem in a German Touring Car championship race but decided not to promote second-place finisher Wickens, who drives for Mercedes.
Ekstroem was disqualified after his father poured water into the pocket of the Audi driver's overalls prior to weighing, violating rules that state that no materials or substances can be added.
“The court decided that the fifth round of the season would not have a winner.”
After the ruling the DTM said: Wickens, in second, will be the best-placed driver of the Norisring race.”
The DTM could give no official explanation for why the water was poured. Media speculation suggested Ekstroem's father might have wanted to cool down his son on a hot afternoon - or add weight by soaking the overalls.
The court decided no other driver should move up in the rankings because Ekstroem had enjoyed no advantage on the track. - Reuters
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