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BTCC: Ford's Reid loses exclusion appeal

6 September 2000

The title hopes of Auto Trader British Touring Car Championship contender
Anthony Reid took a blow today when he failed in a bid to be reinstated to
the results of round 14.

The Scot, who finished third in June's race at Croft, North Yorkshire, was
later excluded after his Ford Mondeo failed a post-race technical check
when information was downloaded from the car's Electronic Control Unit
(ECU).

Although the software loaded onto the ECU was legal, there was no 'random
pattern' found - 'random pattern' has to be installed to fill empty spaces
in the ECU's memory to prevent illegal software being hidden.

At a technical ineligibility appeal hearing today (Tuesday) at the Motor
Sports Assocation (MSA), the sport's governing body, the BTCC race
stewards' decision was upheld. Ford has forfeited its appeal fee and was
ordered to pay £1,000 costs.

The exclusion cost the Scotsman ten points. He is currently second in the
championship, six points behind team-mate Alain Menu, and would have
re-taken the series lead if the appeal had been successful. 

BTCC Administrator Mike Debono now has the right to review the case and
could inflict more penalties including a further points deduction and a
fine to a maximum of £100,000.

Debono said: "We will be looking at the case and any further action that
we feel is necessary will be taken before the end of the season."