Sports · Other Sports · 11 hrs ago
WEC drivers question decision not to deploy full-course yellow after Monza crash
A late crash at the Monza 6 Hours has renewed questions about safety decisions in the World Endurance Championship.
With two minutes left, Jota driver Alex Lynn’s Cadillac collided with a Peugeot driven by Malthe Jakobsen and hit the barriers.
Debris spread across the track, and Lynn remained in the damaged car until he was told to climb over the barriers.
Race control used double yellow flags, rather than a full-course yellow, and the race finished with little disruption.
Aston Martin driver Tom Gamble and Heart of Racing driver Eduardo Barrichello said a full-course yellow or safety car would have been preferable.
Drivers have questioned how race control handles incidents, after similar concerns about safety interventions earlier in the season.
The Monza race ended the WEC season, and the drivers’ comments add to scrutiny of how officials balance safety and race interruptions.
Several World Endurance Championship drivers questioned race control’s decision not to deploy a full-course yellow after a late crash at the Monza 6 Hours.
Jota driver Alex Lynn’s Cadillac hit the barriers with two minutes left, scattering debris across the track.
Race control used double yellow flags between the two corners, and the race finished with minimal disruption.
Drivers including Tom Gamble and Eduardo Barrichello said a full-course yellow or safety car would have been preferable.
The incident renewed scrutiny of how the WEC decides whether to use safety interventions.
- Who
- Several WEC drivers questioned the response. The crash involved Jota driver Alex Lynn and Malthe Jakobsen’s Peugeot.
- What
- Lynn’s Cadillac crashed after contact with Jakobsen’s Peugeot, scattering debris. Race control used double yellow flags rather than a full-course yellow.
- When
- With two minutes left in the Monza 6 Hours.
- Where
- At the exit of Monza’s second chicane, with debris scattered on the run down to Lesmo 1.
- Why
- Drivers questioned whether the response was appropriate given the debris and the stranded car. Race control’s reasons are not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
After the Fuji 6 Hours, Toyota driver Sebastien Buemi said it was difficult to understand the race director’s choices among virtual safety cars and full-course yellows.
Alex Lynn’s Cadillac crashed after contact with Malthe Jakobsen’s Peugeot, scattering debris across the track.
Race control deployed double yellow flags between the two corners, and the race finished with minimal disruption.
- Race
- Monza 6 Hours
- Crash driver
- Alex Lynn
- Other car involved
- #94 Peugeot 9X8 of Malthe Jakobsen
- Lynn’s car
- #12 Cadillac V-Series.R
- Time remaining
- Two minutes
- Race-control response
- Double yellow flags between the two corners
What people are saying
I thought it would have gone to at least FCY for the incident that came there, but they obviously left it
But, yeah, it definitely would have been better for us to have an FCY
I wish we would have gotten a safety car, a full course yellow or something. It was very dangerous as well. In my opinion, that wasn't very nice
There are a lot of full course yellows and virtual safety cars and safety cars, and it is difficult to understand why the race director decides a virtual safety car and not a full course yellow