DTM: Mortara penalty 'probably' a mistake, DSMB admits

German motorsport's governing body has admitted that the penalty that cost DTM title contender Edoardo Mortara points at Zandvoort was probably a mistake.

Mortara and fellow Audi driver Nico Muller were both given drive-through penalties for speeding under the virtual safety car early in the Saturday race.

In the wake of Audi's claim that the penalties were erroneous, the DMSB released a statement admitting that, "There are probably deviations between the data collected from the car by Audi Team Abt Sportsline, and the measurements of the GPS system, made available to the DMSB by a service provider. Final examination of the data is likely to take a few days."

The decision was taken to suspend the use of drive-through penalties for VSC offenses in Sunday's race. This eventually took place with no interruptions via either safety car or VSC.

"During the race, we have to be able to rely on the technical systems made available to us," DMSB spokesman Michael Kramp said. "When the system is reporting that somebody is speeding, an immediate penalty is available.

"Therefore, race control will refrain from using the GPS data to control the slow zones until the situation has been fully clarified. When a slow zone would be necessary during the race, any speeding infringements will only be analysed and penalized after the race."

The DMSB also reacted to bizarre calls to investigate somehow reversing the penalties, saying, "This is a factual decision, which can be compared to a red card in soccer."

Originally on Autosport.com