22.07.2004 Karl Wendlinger AND Jaime Melo have had their FIA GT Donington Park victory at the wheel of a JMB Racing Ferrari 575 GTC reinstated by the FIA Court of Appeal

The international court of appeal met in Paris on Tuesday to examine the appeal introduced by the Automobile Club de Monaco on behalf of JMB Racing, car no 17, Karl Wendlinger.

The Ferrari-running team were appealing against the decision made by the Stewards of the FIA GT Championship race at Donington Park on June 27th who imposed a five-minute time penalty for Parc Ferme irregularities.

Having heard the explanations of both parties and having examined the various documents and other evidence, the Court quashed the decision of the Panel of Stewards and substituted a fine of US$15,000.

The International Court of Appeal was precided over by Mr Reginald Redmond (Ireland), and composed of Mr Xavier Conesa (Spain), Mr Vassilis Koussis (Greece) and Mr José Macedo e Cunha (Portugal).

This means that JMB Racing has regained their Donington Park win, ahead of Vitaphone Racing Team's Saleen S7, with GPC Giesse Squadra Corse third.

FIA GT Drivers Championship (revised): =1st Luca Cappellari, Fabrizio Gollin 44pts, =3rd Matteo Bobbi, Gabriele Gardel 36pts, 5th Karl Wendlinger 31pts, =6th Uwe Altzen, Michael Bartens 28pts, =8th Phillipp Peter, Fabio Babini 23pts

Karl Wendlinger & Jamie Melo on their way to a dramatic last corner victory at Donington Park last month, a result which was put in doubt when the stewards excluded the pair post-race. However the FIA Court of Appeal yesterday overturned the decision & reinstated the pair.