Supercars 2024: Motorsport Australia reprimand team manager over post race ‘physical contact’

Motorsport Australia has reprimanded a team manager for pushing a rival team’s driver in a post race confrontation outside the garages at Symmons Plains on Sunday.

Triple Eight team manager Mark Dutton has received a reprimand for pushing Tickford Racing driver Thomas Randle in pit lane following last weekend’s Tasmania SuperSprint.

The stewards handed down their verdict on the incident, in which Dutton was investigated for making physical contact with Randle outside the Triple Eight garage, on Thursday after a hearing on Wednesday night.

Motorsport Australia received a request from Tickford Racing on Monday to look into the confrontation which happened after Sunday’s race when Randle had gone to the garage to apologise to Broc Feeney and was blocked by Dutton.

The stewards determined that the physical contact, which is not permitted under the rules unless acting in self-defence, was “unnecessary and unreasonable” and hit him with a reprimand.

“The physical contact, being the push, is admitted and there was no contest as to it being intentional,” the stewards’ report read.

Mark Dutton was formerly with Jamie Whincup. Picture: Tim Hunter.

“It was not made in self-defence and even if it was intended to be in defence of others, it was in the circumstances unnecessary and unreasonable.

“The stewards find a breach of Rule B6.5.1 to be established and have determined to issue a reprimand to the Triple 8 authorised representative.”

Randle had sought out Feeney after making contact with him late in Sunday’s sprint as they were both battling for the podium.

But as Randle attempted to walk into the Triple Eight garage, Dutton denied him entry, trying to push him back outside the garage.

The incident damaged both of the drivers’ podium hopes with Feeney finishing 15th and Randle 18th after copping a 15-sec time penalty for the on-track contact.

Thomas Randle made contact with Broc Feeney on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

Motorsport Australia investigating post race confrontation

Motorsport Australia has confirmed it will investigate the confrontation between Triple Eight team manager Mark Dutton and Tickford Racing driver Thomas Randle in pit lane after Sunday’s finale in Tasmania.

The sport’s governing body received a request from Tickford Racing on Monday to look into the incident outside the Triple Eight garage at Symmons Plains.

Randle had gone to the Triple Eight garage after the race to apologise to Broc Feeney after making contact with him late in Sunday’s sprint as they were both battling for the podium.

But as Randle attempted to walk into the Triple Eight garage, Dutton denied him entry, trying to push him back outside the garage.

Triple Eight team boss Jamie Whincup then stepped in to diffuse the situation before Randle walked off.

The incident damaged both of the drivers’ podium hopes with Feeney finishing 15th and Randle 18th after copping a 15-second time penalty for the on-track contact.

A spokesperson for Motorsport Australia confirmed it was now looking into the incident.

Thomas Randle went to apologise to Broc Feeney post race. Picture: Getty Images

“Motorsport Australia has received correspondence from Tickford regarding a post-race incident in pit lane at this weekend’s Supercars event in Tasmania,” the spokesman said.

“We will now work with the relevant parties to determine the next steps and if any further action will be taken.”

The Motorsport Australia investigation comes after Erebus Motorsport owner Betty Klimenko earlier called out the lack of action over the incident on social media.

“It was a very interesting weekend,” she wrote on her Facebook page.

Erebus Motorsport owner Betty Klimenko took to social media following the incident. Picture: Getty Images

“We were racing in Tasmania, and I was home watching, and could not believe it when Dutton and Whincup put their hands on Randle when he tried to apologise, a rule which got Barry Ryan in trouble and punished.

“As the rule states, no one from any team may physically touch someone from another team.

“But all things being as they are in Supercars, as far as I know neither of them got a summons to appear in front of the stewards. And people wonder why I have so little faith in the sport as it is at the moment.”

Asked about the incident afterwards, Randle said:

“Dutto has got some invisible line there. Jamie was fine, he was all good. That’s all you can do, apologise and move on,” Randle said.

Thomas Randle accepted responsibility for the incident. Picture: Getty Images

Randle accepted full responsibility for the incident with Feeney on track.

“I am just gutted with my mistake into turn four with five to go, that was my fault and I have got no one else to blame but myself,” Randle said..

“I will be kicking myself over that one and it’s a real shame because we had a really good chance to capitalise on some good points.

“I just wanted to apologise to Broc … that’s all you can do is apologise and move on.”

Triple Eight technical director Jeromy Moore explained emotions had been running high post-race for the team.

“In the heat of the moment, emotions are running high. We’ll go back and see what actually transpired whether it was a pure mistake or wherever,” Moore said.

“For sure, we get upset when we lose a two-three, regardless of the scenario.

What do you make of the incident?

“At the end of the day, we got taken out, we’re not happy about that, so that’s natural I think.”

Tickford chief executive Simon Brookhouse acknowledged post-race it was a “heat of the moment situation”, but liked to think his team would welcome a drivers’ apology.

“These things happen and, you know, they are stressful environments,” Brookhouse said

“They’ve been racing all day out there for an hour as fast as they possibly can and incidents happen, emotions run high

“I’d like to think that we’d be welcoming if someone wants to apologise and own up, but you just don’t know until it actually happens.

“I think the important thing, from our team’s perspective, is that our driver knows he’s made a mistake, he’s admitted it and we move on.”

Originally published as Supercars 2024: Motorsport Australia reprimand team manager over post race ‘physical contact’