Heard the one about the Kenyan, the Frenchman and the Belgian?

Monday 8th September 2008

The stewards who imposed a retrospective 25-second penalty against Lewis Hamilton two hours after he finished the Belgian GP in first place have been identified as Nicholas Deschaux, Surinder Thatthi and Yves Bacquelaine.

Of the three, Deschaux is arguably the most well known figure, albeit despite apparently having no experience of being a racing driver. The 37-year-old has spent his professional career in administration, and was appointed the President of the French Motorsport Federation last year after previously holding the position of legal director, executive vice president, and then general secretary within the body. It was Deschaux who announced earlier this year that the French GP had been given a reprieve and would remain at Magny-Cours for at least another year.

Thatthi is the chairman of the Confederation of African Countries in Motorsports who has only previously leapt to prominence when it was revealed that he had expressed formal concern about the long hair and scruffy look of four-time world rally champion Sebastien Loeb in May.

In an email to Morrie Chandler, the president of the World Rally Championship, that was leaked to Reuters, Thatthi complained: "I watched the WRC Mexico highlights last night and I have to voice my opinion on the poor appearance of Sebastien Loeb on WRC-TV".

"He was unshaven, scruffy looking and with unkempt hair! It is wrong....when the FIA gives him global TV coverage to millions of viewers and to many children worldwide he is a hero and role model.

"I know there is a level of personal freedom one is allowed but I feel he is taking this too far and someone should talk to him or his team about this."

Bacquelaine, meanwhile, is the chairman of 'Societe de Promotion du circuit de Spa-Francorchamps' - a position that apparently confers on him the position of race steward.

Your Comments

dubfather

"if u watch the inciednt closley hamilton tried to outrun kimi into the corner and failed then was forced to cut the chicane then when he yielded the place to kimi he kept him on the wet side of the track (not the racing line) wich penalised kimi then for not having enough traction to pull away wich then allowed hamilton to come back at him and re-pass him."

formula_420

"after watching the video (I had the same opinion before I saw it), how is it even possible that the race retards (stewards) could even possibly make this call. after kimi ran louie off the track at the bus stop (albeit the late braking put louie in that position), and louie went by him it is VERY FREAKIN' CLEAR that kimi had the advantage - BECAUSE HE PASSED HAMILTON. it isn't louie's fault that the "ice man" can't hack it anymore and was being a p*ssy going into the hair-pin"

mikecurrie

"percyfayer.....did you watch the race? Hamilton was CLEARLY behind the ferrari with his front wing behind the ferrari. I think you shout youtube that one mate and watch it again!"

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