Nika Racing’s Michel Nykjær and Campos Racing’s Fernando Monje and Hugo Valente had all of their times disallowed after qualifying at the Sonoma Raceway for failing a series of technical checks.
Dane Nykjær had originally set the ninth fastest time, but he will start both of Sunday’s races from the back of the grid after the FIA Technical Delegate found his car’s seat to be set back beyond the limits fixed by the Safety Prescriptions in Article 263.6.2 of Appendix J.
Frenchman Valente and Spaniard Monje also fell foul of the same infringement, and lose their 16th and 21st on the grid respectively. The trio will start at the back of the grid in the order of their [disallowed] Q1 times.
Also moved to the back of the grid is Zengő Motorsport’s Norbert Michelisz, after he received an engine-change penalty after qualifying. Michelisz originally qualified in seventh position.
The changes mean that Proteam Racing’s Mehdi Bennani is promoted to pole position for race two, after Honda’s Gabriele Tarquini originally gained the position.