Meritus Disqualified from Formula BMW Asia Championship!

Mikko Nassi · **Posted:** Mon Nov 05, 2007 7:04 pm

Jack Lemvard and Jazeman dq'd from the final round, and Meritus dq'd from the season (ala McLaren).

www.afos.com wrote:

After Round 22, and following receipt of a post-race scrutineering report, Race Stewards issued a Decision to exclude the cars of Jazeman Jaafar (MAS/CIMB Team Qi-Meritus) and Jack Lemvard (THA/CIMB Team Qi-Meritus) for a technical infringement of the regulations. In view of the severity of the offence and the fact that the same team had contravened the Technical Regulations on an earlier occasion during the season, the Decision also included the exclusion of CIMB Team Qi-Meritus from the Formula BMW Asia Series 2007.

Being dq'd from the final race put Jazeman in 2nd in the driver's championship 1 point behind Zahir.

Congratulations to Zahir on the Championship!

I wonder what it was this time on the Meritus cars? Definitely more than a simple breach to be dq'd from the season.

Mikko Nassi · **Posted:** Mon Nov 05, 2007 7:14 pm

thestar.com.my wrote:

A post-race scrutineering report said that both their cars had gearbox selector springs that did not comply with regulations.

Oops.

RocK · **Posted:** Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:39 am

are the same people running Meritus? I remember the Formula-Asia days, the pits rumors talks Meritus were cheating back then also.

Congratulations Zahir, his dad must be happy

Mikko Nassi · **Posted:** Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:47 am

RocK wrote:

are the same people running Meritus? I remember the Formula-Asia days, the pits rumors talks Meritus were cheating back then also.

I'd imagine it's still mainly the same people.

To be fair they've been successful for a long time and success (particularly if dominant) in motorsports always seems to bring with it accusations of cheating no matter what you do.

Being caught twice in one season doesn't mean they've always been doing it and of course there is a chance both times were accidents but it still doesn't look good for them. :wink:

Jules · **Posted:** Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:55 am

Its indeed a shame to see this happening even in the junior league of racing. And yes, Meritus is long time player and is run by Peter Thompson - a wily Irish chap.

Anyhow, irrespective of what it is - I am sure all the drivers involved gave their best in every drive. I am sure as race driver - we all do that each time we race.

From what I heard - the earlier infringement was on using non specs absorbers......and now, selector springs - which I do not honestly know how this will give a better performance.

Well, congrats to Jazeman nevertheless for his effort!

Alex Ritchie · **Joined:** Wed Jul 11, 2007 2:10 pm **Posts:** 277

Rules are rules - if you break them out you go, if the series is well run. The scrutineers do not have leeway to decide whether modifications are performance enhancing or not.

...otherwise the series will quickly degenerate into "one rule for the chosen ones and one rule for the rest".

Jules · **Posted:** Tue Nov 06, 2007 1:47 pm

Alex,

I understand your comments on the rules and they should never be broken.

Being NOT technically competent - I am trying to see if anyone here knows what these spring do and how they can assist in anything. Not trying to justify Meritus's action.....and I wun do that even if Peter is my relation ( which of course, is not )

Cheers.

Alex Ritchie · **Joined:** Wed Jul 11, 2007 2:10 pm **Posts:** 277

Ah so des...

I feel sorry for Jazeman, to be robbed of the title by his team's wrong-doings. They were caught cheating twice this season so there should be no sympathy for them. But the driver is innocent...

Jules · **Posted:** Tue Nov 06, 2007 2:37 pm

Yes, I have said the same to Jazeman that he take this DQ positively knowing full well that he gave his 100% effort.

His team....well...ahem!

Mikko Nassi · **Posted:** Tue Nov 06, 2007 4:05 pm

Jules wrote:

Being NOT technically competent - I am trying to see if anyone here knows what these spring do and how they can assist in anything.

I've been reading up a bit on them and they play a part in changing gears as their name would imply. If you can improve the shifting time by a fraction you have power going down longer than your competitors = you gain time.

I can't imagine it would be a big advantage since it's not like they put in a completely new shifting mechanism... but even a guaranteed hundredth or two every lap is a lot in spec racing.

Yeah rules are rules and the only thing I can see changing is maybe somehow they get their team points back... but for the drivers I don't think they have much hope really of getting their points back since it's clear that the cars did have non-spec part(s).

RocK · **Posted:** Wed Nov 07, 2007 10:41 am

Mikko Nassi wrote:

To be fair they've been successful for a long time and success (particularly if dominant) in motorsports always seems to bring with it accusations of cheating no matter what you do.

Being caught twice in one season doesn't mean they've always been doing it and of course there is a chance both times were accidents but it still doesn't look good for them. :wink:

Thats the problem. getting caught once will make people question your pass success.

I was told the 1st infringement was something todo with the ignitions system. :?:

BabyGodzillaGTi-R · **Posted:** Wed Nov 07, 2007 12:38 pm

Apparently the crank angle sensor was modified....

So more ignition advance heheheh....

Mikko Nassi · **Posted:** Wed Nov 07, 2007 1:07 pm

well that can't be easy to talk your way out of.

They've put in an appeal. My worry is that they might end up coming off even worse (drivers lose more points or they get fined or something that would affect them for next year).

RocK · **Posted:** Wed Nov 07, 2007 8:50 pm

if i am Jazeman father, I'm suing.. :!:

oh the formula Asia days, a bird who drove for them said their was using a non specs 1st gear. dynamic on launch.. not the only team btw. :shock:

Mikko Nassi · **Posted:** Fri Mar 14, 2008 4:00 pm

A bit old news but just thought I'd post it here...

Jazeman was reinstated as the 2007 BMW Asia Champion.

The reason:

Quote:

As the ASN did not conduct a hearing within the required 30 day period, the Federation Internationale de L'Automobile (FIA) held that a competitor shall not be excluded without due process.

While in February the FIA pointed out that it is highly unsatisfactory that no Appeal took place, the FIA requested the Organiser to amend the results as a consequence of this procedural irregularity.

So because the Chinese ASN was lazy (?) and didn't conduct an appeal hearing they got the championship back by default based on a procedural irregularity.

Good for Jazeman, not so great for Zahir. :wink:

Meritus Disqualified from Formula BMW Asia Championship!

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