Supercars 2022: Stewards censure Barry Ryan over Mark Winterbottom shove

Erebus Motorsport boss Barry Ryan has learned his fate over a ‘forceful’ shove on veteran driver Mark Winterbottom in the pits at Pukekohe.

Erebus Motorsport boss Barry Ryan has received what amounts to a slap on the wrist by Motorsport Australia stewards for his involvement in the explosive pit lane argument between Will Brown and Mark Winterbottom (see below) during the most recent Supercars round at Pukekohe.

Ryan was seen to push Winterbottom, twice, on the Fox Sports live coverage as the Team 18 driver attempted to apologise to Brown following his part in the horrific crash that ended the Erebus driver’s weekend just one lap into the second race.

Brown told News Corp on Monday there was “no real fallout” with Winterbottom after the initial fiery verbal stoush in New Zealand, adding that both drivers had “gotten over it now”.

But the situation was referred to the stewards who handed down their ruling on Tuesday, finding that Ryan was in breach of rule B6.5.1: “a person must not intentionally make physical contact, which includes any type of assault with another person, except in self-defence.”

Mark Winterbottom (left) gets into a heated argument with Erebus Motorsport team boss Barry Ryan (middle) and driver Will Brown (right) after their crash at Pukekohe Park Raceway. Photo: Fox Sports

Ryan was deemed to have made intentional physical contact with Winterbottom on two occasions; the first, “using the back of his hand to touch (Winterbottom’s) left arm to direct the driver towards the door of the garage” which was ruled to have “no force behind the push.”

However the second contact was ruled to be “evidently more forceful than the first, because it pushed (Winterbottom) off balance, albeit slightly”.

The stewards found the second push from Ryan on Winterbottom was “unwarranted and went beyond the bounds of social norms”, adding that Winterbottom “acknowledged that he did not feel threatened or intimidated during the incident.”

Ryan also “acknowledged that he made an error of judgment and that physical contact with (Winterbottom) was unnecessary”.

The stewards then found to impose a reprimand on Ryan - essentially a warning.

With the matter now officially and privately settled, both teams and their drivers will turn full attention to the Bathurst 1000 on October 6-9.

BROWN AND WINTERBOTTOM REACT AFTER PIT LANE STOUSH

- Hannah Davies

Erebus Motorsport driver Will Brown has confirmed there is no bad blood between him and Mark Winterbottom despite their blazing post-race altercation following a terrifying crash in New Zealand.

Winterbottom appeared to bump Brown off the track on the opening lap of the Auckland SuperSprint at Pukekohe, with the rising star smashing into the concrete barrier at the pit entry at more than 50Gs.

Brown emerged unscathed but shaken, while the smash severely impacted his car, nearly ruining his wildcard chances at Bathurst.

It was Winterbottom’s attempted apology post-race that caused a heated exchange between the pair but Brown said there was no lingering acrimony.

“There was no real fall out to be honest,” Brown said.

“There was a conversation, I was probably a little annoyed at the time and wasn’t happy about it but we’ve both gotten over it now.

“I got a photo with him in the background just then so that was a bit of fun,” Brown joked referring to a life-size cardboard cutout of Winterbottom he posed with in a promotion for the upcoming Gold Coast 500.

“It’s racing, there’s always adrenaline and passion involved but we’ll move on and try not to get into each other here.”

Brown said the car had been taken to the Erebus fabrication shop in Mount Gambier and would be ready for his wildcard appearance at Bathurst.

“The guys have been working really hard over there and I believe it’s actually in a few days going to head back to Melbourne to get rebuilt.

“It’ll put a bit of a hindrance on our test plan leading into Bathurst, but the wildcard is still going ahead.”

The team’s backup plan was to scrap the wildcard entry and put Brown into the backup car in place of Greg Murphy, who will race with Richie Stanaway.

“Obviously I’d be in a bit of trouble if Greg Murphy didn’t get to race Bathurst. We’ve worked really hard to allow that to happen.”

Brown will compete at Bathurst in early October before the GC500 kicks off on October 28.

Brown last raced at the Gold Coast in 2019, which was the catalyst for his signing with Erebus Motorsport for the 2020 Super2 Series and then into Supercars in 2021.

“I love this circuit, it’s probably my favourite on the calendar. It’s balls to the wall around here and we’re really excited,” Brown said.

“These street tracks just bring an atmosphere like no other and it’s really exciting.”

Erebus Motorsport driver Will Brown has confirmed there is no bad blood between him and Mark Winterbottom despite their blazing post-race altercation following a terrifying crash in New Zealand.

Will Brown after his first win in Supercars during the BP Ultimate Sydney SuperSprint last year. Picture: Supercars/Edge Photographics

Winterbottom appeared to bump Brown off the track on the opening lap of the Auckland SuperSprint at Pukekohe, with the rising star smashing into the concrete barrier at the pit entry at more than 50Gs.

Brown emerged unscathed but shaken, while the smash severely impacted his car, nearly ruining his wildcard chances at Bathurst.

It was Winterbottom’s attempted apology post-race that caused a heated exchange between the pair but Brown said there was no lingering acrimony.

“There was no real fall out to be honest,” Brown said.

“There was a conversation, I was probably a little annoyed at the time and wasn’t happy about it but we’ve both gotten over it now.

“I got a photo with him in the background just then so that was a bit of fun,” Brown joked referring to a life-size cardboard cutout of Winterbottom he posed with in a promotion for the upcoming Gold Coast 500.

“It’s racing, there’s always adrenaline and passion involved but we’ll move on and try not to get into each other here.”

Brown said the car had been taken to the Erebus fabrication shop in Mount Gambier and would be ready for his wildcard appearance at Bathurst.

“The guys have been working really hard over there and I believe it’s actually in a few days going to head back to Melbourne to get rebuilt.

“It’ll put a bit of a hindrance on our test plan leading into Bathurst, but the wildcard is still going ahead.”

The team’s backup plan was to scrap the wildcard entry and put Brown into the backup car in place of Greg Murphy, who will race with Richie Stanaway.

“Obviously I’d be in a bit of trouble if Greg Murphy didn’t get to race Bathurst. We’ve worked really hard to allow that to happen.”

Brown will compete at Bathurst in early October before the GC500 kicks off on October 28.

Brown last raced at the Gold Coast in 2019, which was the catalyst for his signing with Erebus Motorsport for the 2020 Super2 Series and then into Supercars in 2021.

“I love this circuit, it’s probably my favourite on the calendar. It’s balls to the wall around here and we’re really excited,” Brown said.

“These street tracks just bring an atmosphere like no other and it’s really exciting.”