Tony D’Alberto refused to race in the last of the three TCR Australia races at Symmons Plains on Sunday, after the organisers elected to not award championship points for the opening race – which he had won on the road.
Having qualified his Wall Racing Honda on pole earlier on Saturday, D’Alberto took the chequered flag first in a red-flagged and heavily interrupted opening race, which saw only ten of the scheduled 30 laps completed.
Because that represented less than half distance, officials decided on Sunday, following a protest from Garry Rogers Motorsport, to annul the points originally awarded – but not until the reversed-grid second race had already taken place.
With the race three grid being formed by the total of points scored in races one and two, it would have meant D’Alberto – seemingly the fastest driver on Saturday – would start race three from just seventh on the grid.
Having believed he was on course for race three pole when running in seventh in race two, D’Alberto was content with his finishing position, until being told after the race that the race one points had been rescinded.
The nature of the way in which the grid for race three is formed, when race one is effectively discounted, meant that the drivers at the front of the grid for the finale had in effect been handed two reverse grid starting positions, whilst effectively penalising further the fastest drivers in the field.
Furious with the decision taken by officials, and the timing of the decision, D’Alberto decided not to race, pitting at the end of the formation lap.
“It’s very much a sad situation to be out of the car here in pitlane,” said D’Alberto on TV during the final race.
“But we put it on pole, won the first race, conserved it in race two just to look after the car as we knew we had enough points to start on pole for the last one, and then a decision has been made [that] basically race one is non-points and we [would] start the race [three] back in seventh.
“I think it’s just so unprofessional to happen so late in the piece and I had to make a stand.
“Yes, [it was my decision]. The team were encouraging me to do the race, but I decided to pull the pin on it because I just think it’s absolutely unprofessional and I won’t be part of that.
“Everyone was talking the same thing; probably some weren’t quite as brave as I was to not do the race, but that’s just where I’m at at the moment. I’m quite frustrated with the whole thing.
“In the championship I have myself, Honda, some big sponsors in the category and they need to operate at a professional level and this weekend has clearly been sub-par.
“There’s been lots of different reasons for that – everyone makes mistakes, whatever, we all have made mistakes. But it just keeps continuing.
“The race is run and done, as far as I know there’s no appeal after this. I’m just so disappointed in the whole process and [annoyed] enough not to do the race and take a stand.”
With TCR Australia awarding points to effectively all classified finishers at present, due to the reduced grid size, the non-score in race three has significantly impacted D’Alberto’s championship challenge, as the series heavily rewards consistency.