Engelhart, Bortolotti Disqualified After Multiple Offences

Photo: Dirk Bogaerts/SRO

Christian Engelhart and Mirko Bortolotti have been disqualified from the Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup races at the Nürburgring after the German was found to have committed multiple offences at the end of Race 1.

The SRO Motorsports Group announced on Sunday that the car will not take part in this afternoon’s Sprint Cup finale along with further penalties.

It was found that after the checkered flag in Race 1 on Saturday, Engelhart removed his gloves, unbuckled his harness and removed and destroyed the SD card in the driver-facing onboard safety camera.

The car initially won the race until it was given a 30-second post-race time penalty for Engelhart wearing his frontal head restraint over the shoulder straps of his harness.

The stewards since found further footage, showing the German’s actions after the race.

A stewards’ decision noted four separate offences including driving on track with an unbuckled harness, failure to wear gloves and failure to have the onboard safety camera operating.

However, the penalties were given in relation to Offence No. 4: “Conduct prejudicial to the interests of the Competition as prohibited by Art 12.1.1.c of the ISC”.

In addition to the disqualification from the event, a €5000 fine has been imposed, while Engelhart has been referred to the DMSB for “any further sanction as they deem appropriate”.

UPDATE: Engelhart Admits Full Responsibility, Apologizes

Engelhart has taken responsibility and apologized for the incident, according to a statement released by Grasser Racing Team at 2 p.m. local time on Sunday.

“Engelhart admitted full responsibility for the error, he respects the Stewards decision and brings his sincere apologies to the FIA, SRO Motorsports Group, Lamborghini Squadra Corse and the GRT Grasser Racing Team,” the statement read.

The Austrian team has just one car left in this afternoon’s race, the No. 19 Lamborghini of Andrea Caldarelli and Ezequiel Perez Companc.

It will get underway at 4 p.m. with Luca Stolz on pole, while the championship battle is between Alex Riberas/Christopher Mies and Raffaele Marciello/Michael Meadows.

Jake Kilshaw

Jake Kilshaw is a UK-based journalist. He is a graduate of Politics and International Relations.