Penalties Snuff Out Corvette Racing Team’s Hopes Of Winning Fuji 2023

The No. 33 Corvette Racing C8.R, driven by Nicky Catsburg, Nico Varrone

and Ben Keating, seemed to be a clear favorite to win the Six Hours of Fuji on Sunday,

[{"selector":"#anim-70961e28-6fdd-460f-84f9-f6cf981d8552 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-7.812499744007886%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-51f475ec-0bfe-4fae-8a51-38fb11d8957f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-77b7bcb5-5010-46b1-8747-d5979554089c","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

However, a little accident and two penalties ended the team's hopes of winning.

[{"selector":"#anim-851022cc-3cfe-4d13-a3ec-3d647835d8a6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.17499990397451%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9715d0b8-734d-41b2-9e62-8e3ca64ed504","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d051fbe5-36b3-4945-9267-5f24f0ed7acf","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

At the time of the crash, which occurred three hours into the race, Keating was operating

[{"selector":"#anim-a1d56c3d-a4be-4692-8969-346022e55a93 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.17499990397451%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0dd0e634-3e8a-4fe5-9f66-5f77811d721f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-28007c67-63d5-433d-a5e2-d6db16222a96","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

No. 33 Corvette Racing vehicle when it made contact with Thomas Flohr's No. 54 Ferrari

[{"selector":"#anim-0ffa6c4f-be0a-4e8c-a904-d6585020146a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-7.812499744007886%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-156cc614-6e34-4e31-86cc-ed3637c6cf9d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9ee87a3c-f16a-42eb-b066-ccb36f90f26e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Following the collision, the Corvette team was given a 30-second stop/go penalty

[{"selector":"#anim-0b4b424e-11a4-4a66-8201-14232071ff31 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-0.014810123232089425%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-59997dd2-24da-42e3-9e3e-aa9f86048668","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d371c4ef-2bf4-4da1-8a71-606ee52ff6ba","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

After the mishap, however, Varrone quickly returned the lightning-fast No. 33 Corvette to the lead.

[{"selector":"#anim-18a7706c-f3aa-4e34-a4f9-507d354968f0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-7.812499744007886%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-31a80fae-1238-4950-a2e9-e19f467738cb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4df34221-9755-43c2-a71c-c7c754a58c80","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Varrone was given another penalty while in the lead and lost 10 seconds for allegedly

[{"selector":"#anim-f8ca5ecb-f6a8-42dc-a36e-d061c94508cf [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-0.014810123232089425%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-31210bf6-cb46-40ca-adc3-097efd44f560","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-277dfbcb-5ff5-4a7b-b7cb-eb0f6641f4d5","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

The three 'Vette drivers subsequently came back to finish in third position

[{"selector":"#anim-65fa948a-4a1b-48a0-bda7-65eebcd465e4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.249999886225726%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a52857de-31b1-409a-ae75-83ca08177f7f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6bd62089-1831-4502-a620-34afbd7a5461","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

, although it was understandable that they were furious with the penalties given

[{"selector":"#anim-c32826f5-32f5-4447-973c-420e105bf0d4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.249999886225726%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eb63d6e5-6dea-4cf7-a462-d9e395590ed9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1627c82f-dd7d-4446-a4e2-9765de1dfdbd","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

the team since they felt they had been treated unjustly throughout the race.

[{"selector":"#anim-499f336a-802b-4b89-9546-cf71a4a074dd [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-7.812499744007886%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9963ded1-54e2-4fd7-8bdc-671c93b449a3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-03ec6084-d468-4edc-bd09-2947678aefde","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

We should have won the race, but it's nice to walk away with a podium," Catsburg said.

[{"selector":"#anim-9db9ec47-6fd8-405e-ac41-75754d6cdcba [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.249999886225726%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0355919f-66c4-47df-b56a-374f0c3f217a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-daae1675-1ae1-4d4f-9c00-31bfe05b4141","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]