The collision between Zach Bates and Ben Gomersall in the recent Supercars round left a lasting impact. Not only did a 15-second penalty drop Bates and Aaron Seton from 13th to 16th, but it also put MSR under scrutiny due to a malfunctioning onboard camera.
In a race hit by heavy rain, Bates made contact with Gomersall, spinning the Tickford wildcard. Bates argued he only touched the left-rear after Gomersall had a small moment. However, without onboard footage, stewards struggled to verify the claim. "There was no judicial camera footage available from car 10 to make good the driver of car 10’s position," the stewards’ report read. External footage was inconclusive, and Gomersall denied having a moment.
Stewards ultimately deemed the contact avoidable and issued a 15-second penalty. Consequently, Bates and Seton’s position plummeted. The incident was further complicated by the fact that Ben Gomersall is the son of Jason Gomersall, a co-owner and long-time supporter of MSR. This personal connection added a layer of drama in the paddock, though stewards stressed their decision was based on available evidence.
The camera issue itself was the subject of a separate hearing. According to the decision document, MSR’s representative was unsure why only the driver-facing camera was not operational. They suspected wet conditions or a power supply issue. "They had checked the system prior to the race confirming power and operation. The camera telemetry showed spiking in the voltage to the camera, the timing of which corresponded with a downpour of rain during the race," the document stated.
Without forward-facing vision, the team and driver could not present meaningful visual evidence to substantiate their defence in the driving infringement hearing. Stewards imposed the 15-second penalty. However, in the separate hearing regarding the non-functional camera, stewards decided to issue a warning rather than a fine. They considered that the camera system was powered and activated, an SD card was installed, and the reasons were apparently beyond the team’s control. Additionally, this was the team’s first infringement of this kind this championship, so the penalty was consistent with similar cases.
This decision serves as an important lesson for Supercars teams about ensuring all hardware is functional, especially in extreme weather. Although MSR escaped a fine, the incident highlights how vulnerable a team’s position can be when technology fails. Bates currently sits 18th in the drivers’ championship, the third of five rookies, while MSR is eighth among the 11 two-car teams.
With racing getting tighter, every technical detail can determine the outcome. MSR must quickly address their camera system to avoid similar issues in the future. Meanwhile, Bates and Seton need to bounce back from the disappointment and focus on the next round. Competition in Supercars remains fierce, and every point counts.
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