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Malucelli, Kearby Suspended for Sebring Accidents

Matteo Malucelli, Gaston Kearby suspended for one race, placed on probation…

Photo: Risi Competizione

Photo: Risi Competizione

IMSA announced Wednesday that it has suspended drivers Matteo Malucelli and Gaston Kearby for one race and placed both on probation for an additional race following their actions in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

Both drivers were involved in separate accidents in the second round of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.

Malucelli spun and backed his No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari F458 Italia into the Turn 1 barriers and rejoined in front of traffic, collecting a GTLM-class BMW and a Porsche GTD car.

Kearby, meanwhile, was at the center of the controversial mid-race accident between his BAR1 Motorsports Oreca FLM09 and Alex Taglaini’s RSR Racing PC entry, which saw the SCCA racer spin and rejoin in front of the open-wheel veteran in Turn 16.

The two PC cars were totaled in the wreck and Kearby issued an apology for his actions on Tuesday.

IMSA deemed both incidents to have violated Rule 48.4 (unjustifiable risk).

It’s unclear who Malucelli’s replacement will be at Risi for Long Beach, although the Italian driver was not listed in the car when the initial entry list was released last week.

With PC cars not scheduled to race in Long Beach, Kearby will be forced to sit out the next PC round at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John

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