Thed Björk has been excluded from both WTCC races in Slovakia due to the metal in the air restrictor of the engine expanding too much after the second race.
The WTCC regulations state that the air restrictor must pass the technical inspection no matter the temperature or situation.
The air restrictor of Thed Björk’s car was checked and passed in the first races at Paul Ricard two weeks ago, but not after the second race at Slovakiaring.
”The temperature of the engine and air restrictor was considerably higher when measured after the second race in Slovakia compared to during the race. This means that there was no performance gain in the races, only the fact that we have not been able to test the expansion of the metal at these extreme temperatures that are only reached when stopping the car in parc ferme,” said Mattias Evensson, Head of Engine Development at Cyan Racing.
The reason for the temperature rising when stopping the car is that the cooling air flow when driving the car stops. Instead, all the heat from the exhaust, manifold and more rises up towards the engine and air restrictor, meaning that the temperature increases rapidly just after stopping the car.
Another contributing fact to the extreme temperature reached after the race was that the air intake was partially blocked by grass following the tense on-track action during the second race.
”The decision of the organisation is correct, we will not appeal it. As beginners in a new championship, you have to take into account that they are going to check the new car specifically. The important thing that we can take with us from the races here is that we have a good starting point both in terms of reliability, performance and that the results Thed achieved were taken on fair sporting grounds,” said Alexander Murdzevski Schedvin, Head of Motorsport at Polestar.
The exclusion of Thed Björk elevates team mate Fredrik Ekblom one place in both races, meaning ninth position in the first race and eighth position in the second race.
Amended results
Race 1 – Top 5
1 Tiago Monteiro Honda Civic 11 laps
2 Mehdi Bennani Citroën C-Elysée +2.526
3 Rob Huff Honda Civic +3.119
4 Gabriele Tarquini Lada Vesta +9.247
5 José-María López Citroën C-Elysée +9.453
…
9 Fredrik Ekblom Volvo S60 +12.567
DQ(7) Thed Björk Volvo S60 +11.129
Race 2 – Top 5
1 José-María López Citroën C-Elysée 12 laps
2 Tiago Monteiro Honda Civic +0.700
3 Nicky Catsburg Lada Vesta +3.260
4 Norbert Michelisz Honda Civic +4.620
5 Yvan Muller Citroën C-Elysée +4.737
…
8 Fredrik Ekblom Volvo S60 +7.551
DQ(4) Thed Björk Volvo S60 +3.868