Skaife appeal upheld.

Out-going Australian V8 Supercar champion Mark Skaife has seen the points deduction awarded against him during the season finale at Eastern Creek quashed by a court of appeal convened by the national motorsport body, CAMS.

The V8 Supercar National Court of Appeal met at the CAMS National Office in Melbourne to continue to hear an appeal lodged by Skaife with regard to an incident with Russell Ingall during race two at Eastern Creek at the end of November, and upheld the appeal, on the basis that there was insufficient evidence to warrant a finding of careless driving against the HRT driver. The penalty of 30 championship points was quashed.

Written reasons for the decision, including recommendations, will be provided by the court by 16 January 2004. Skaife's $10,000 appeal fee will also be reimbursed in full.

Ingall and Skaife came together exiting turn nine during the final race of a frenetic V8 season, and the resulting contact forced the Holden driver out of the event. Skaife was later seen gesticulating at Ingall from the roadside as the field circulated under the safety car. After an official hearing which lasted late into Sunday night, Skaife was deducted 30 points and Ingall 70 by race stewards for the on-track incident.

Ingall copped a $15,000 fine and lost 150 points after being excluded from the race meeting for veering toward the unprotected Skaife, while the champion received a $10,000 and 75-point penalty for brining the sport into disrepute by staying trackside on the lap following the incident. Both drivers also received a three-race ban, suspended over twelve months for the incident, and could miss three races if they are found guilty of bringing the sport into disrepute in the next year.

Skaife elected not to protest his penalty for the second infringement.

Ingall, meanwhile, saw his appeal dismissed at an earlier CAMS meeting, but had his fine was reduced to $10,000.