FIA to continue investigating Honda's flat floor

The results of the WTCC Race of Morocco and the preceding event at the Hungaroring two weeks’ ago are still subject to change, with the FIA technical delegate continuing an investigation into the flat floor of Honda.

Honda romped to a 1-2-3 result in the main race in Morocco, putting their championship charge against Citroen firmly back on track.

However, it's been confirmed an investigation is ongoing following a technical bulletin issued in Hungary confirming the FIA were looking into the flat floor of the four Honda Civic WTCCs, including the privateer entry of Ferenc Ficza.

During Sunday in Hungary, the stewards then put out a technical decision confirming that the Hondas were all found to be in compliance, but it is understood that further investigations have since continued.

“Following the Technical Delegate Report No.3 about the flat bottom of the cars number 5, 12, 18 and 55 of the Manufacturer Honda Motors, the Stewards investigated the matter and found that according to Appendix J Article 263 of the ISC they are in compliance with the current regulations,” read the statement made by the FIA stewards in Hungary.

However, over the course of the WTCC Race of Morocco, the official documentation of the race has now confirmed that the FIA technical delegate is continuing an investigation of the flat floor, with a decision on the legality of the Honda cars flat floor expected during the next few weeks.

In the official results from the Morocco weekend, all have been declared final “Subject to the conclusion of the further investigation concerning flat bottom of car 5, 12, 18, 55 (Technical Report No.1)”

The floor is believed to be helping to distribute the compensation weight that the cars have been required to carry since Hungary (70kg at Hungary, 40kg in Morocco.

Though the technical regulations only specify that passenger-side located ballast be used to “complete the weight of the car” is adding some ambiguity as to how that rule can be interpreted by the manufacturer teams.

“It is permitted to complete the weight of the car by adding a single unit of ballast that may be made from stacked metallic plates”, states the technical regulation in Appendix J.

“The plates must be fixed by means of tools, with the possibility of affixing seals, and must be placed visibly on the floor of the cockpit in the front passenger’s location.”

Neil Hudson / TouringCarTimes