Manor hit with seven-minute penalty for Nurburgring race

The stewards penalised Jonathan Hirschi for a collision with Stefan Mucke’s #66 Ford GT during Friday’s second practice session, which was halted for 10 minutes because a photographer was standing in the runoff area at Turn 5.

After the red flag came out, Hirschi collided with Mucke's Ford at Turn 8. The stewards handed the #24 Manor a seven-minute stop and go penalty to be served during Sunday’s six-hour race.

"During a red flag situation in free practice two, car number 24 overtook car number 66 in turn eight and there was a collision between the two cars and car 24 spun”, a statement from the stewards read.

“The stewards considered that this incident was a serious fault from driver of car number 24. His explanations to check his speed limiter are not excusing his behaviour.”

Hirschi has also received another, suspended seven-minute stop and go in case of a new red flag infraction during any of the next three WEC events.

By serving the penalty, the #24 Manor, which Hirschi shares with Roberto Merhi and Tor Graves, is expected to lose at least four laps at the start of the race.

The German photographer who caused the red flag was banned for all future WEC and ELMS events, having been standing between the race track and the barriers on the outside of one of the fastest corners of the track.

The #26 G-Drive Oreca of Roman Rusinov, Pierre Thiriet and Ben Hanley will also have to serve a three-minute stop-and-go penalty in Germany after a clash between Rusinov and the #88 Proton Porsche in last month’s Le Mans 24 Hours.