29 April 2005
LONDON: Toyota's appeal against Ralf Schumacher's demotion in the San Marino Grand Prix will be heard in Paris next Tuesday, Formula One's governing body said yesterday.
The German driver was stripped of his point for eighth place and relegated to 11th for a pitlane incident in Sunday's race at Imola.
Compatriot Nick Heidfeld, driving for Williams, was moved up to eighth place instead.
Stewards said Toyota, second behind Renault in the championship, had released Ralf from his second pitstop before it was safe to do so.
Heidfeld, who was fighting the German for position, said Ralf had got in front of him at the stop by forcing him to brake hard to avoid a crash."
Toyota are appealing to clarify the position "in view of the extremely vague description of the regulation and a number of similar incidents which have gone unpunished."
The FIA said a decision was expected on Wednesday, the same day that the International Court of Appeal in Paris hears a separate case brought by the governing body against its own stewards for upholding Jenson Button's third place for BAR.
The outcome of that hearing is expected next Thursday, the eve of Spanish Grand Prix practice at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya.
Race stewards inspected Button's car for six hours on Sunday night at Imola before giving it the all-clear. The FIA are appealing against that decision.
The decision has prompted speculation that BAR, owned by British American Tobacco and Honda, might have used a second, concealed, fuel tank to enable them to run below the minimum weight during the race.
BAR have said they have nothing to hide and have denied running light at any stage of the race.
The penalties for any team caught cheating are severe, with Toyota banned from the world rally championship in 1995 for using an illegal turbocharger.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,...7a1823,00.html
Ralf Schumacher appeal set for Tuesday
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