Sims excluded from F3 race two

Alexander Sims has been excluded from his fifth place in the second Formula 3 European Championship race of the weekend at Hockenheim.

The Briton's Hitech Grand Prix Dallara-Volkswagen failed the air vacuum test in scrutineering after the second race. Hitech boss David Hayle ascribed the problem to gravel stones flicked up from the crash out of fifth place from Alexander Albon, who Sims was immediately behind at the time.

"The team did not manipulate the car, it was just bad luck," said Hayle. "On lap two Albon ended up in the gravel, tossing stones into the air. Alexander [Sims] was following Albon and was hit by a shower of stones.

"Some have taken off his windshield; others have created a crack in his airbox. It's a shame that this led to the exclusion and to losing fifth position."

Although historically in F3 such incidents have led to cars with damaged airboxes significantly gaining in power and speed, Sims made no further progress from the fifth place he inherited when Albon crashed.

Originally on Autosport.com