Thed Bjork will start the opening FIA World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) contest from the rear of the field are incurring a penalty for an engine change.
Damage sustained as a result of the heavy pile-up last time out in Vila Real necessitated an engine change on Bjork’s YMR-run Hyundai i30 N TCR on the Thursday in Slovakia.
Sebastien Loeb Racing were in a similar position, but their application for force majeure was accepted and both Rob Huff and Medhi Bennani will start from their respective qualifying positions as standard.
The difference between the two cases is Bjork’s participation on the final day of action in Portugal after swift repairs, in which he took pole position and the race three victory.
Each car is only allowed a single engine for the entire WTCR season, with any unauthorised changes demoting the offender to the back of the grid at the next opportunity.
John Fillipi has also been exonerated of any penalties despite also making an engine change post-Portugal.
The qualifying session this ruling applies to is scheduled to take place at 17:55 BST today [13th July].