Tomas Enge's F3000 title taken away

Marcel ten Caat · 1 Oct 2002, 15:18 (Ref:393132)

Enge loses F3000 title

Suspended ban for Czech

Tomas Enge has lost his F3000 championship after being stripped of his win at the Hungarian round of the series, and has received a suspended 12-month ban from racing.

After a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Paris today (Tuesday), it was decided that Enge should lose the 10 points he received for winning the race at the Hungaroring, where he failed a drugs test taken during the meet.

The council studied the medical reports regarding the samples taken at Hungary, and listened to the case put forward by Enge, who denied taking the cannabis found in the test.

Should Enge fail another random drug test over the next 12 months, he will be suspended from racing for a year.

Enge's exclusion from the Hungarian race means that Super Nova's Sebastien Bourdais inherits the F3000 championship.

(autosport.com)

NME · 1 Oct 2002, 15:33 (Ref:393145)

It is a shame that this ends like that !

Enge deserved to win the title. I dont have anything to say against him or in favour regarding the cannabis issue. I just feel that FIA isnt sure of his guilt, or they wouldnt be so gentle in the punishment.

If he his guilty they such be hard on the punishment, but if they are not 100% sure they should acquit Tomas.

For Tomas i say ... i believe you are inocent if you say so. Good luck for the future, and for me you are the 2002 F3000 Champ !

Andrew Kitson · 1 Oct 2002, 15:36 (Ref:393146)

Very sad for Tomas and for F3000 generally.
As Bourdais has said - he would not feel like the champion if Tomas lost points.
I don't think the FIA had much choice though. After a positive test, they could not afford to do nothing. It would have given the wrong signals especially when governments are trying to stamp out 'drug' driving throughout Europe.
Let's hope Tomas can overcome this and get a top ride somewhere next season.

Lee Janotta · 1 Oct 2002, 16:26 (Ref:393190)

Bourdais has won nothing but a trophy. I've got nothing against him, but he was just plain beaten.

Marijuana use won't cost you an Olympic Gold Medal; Why should it cost you an F3000 championship? He obviously wasn't driving under the influence. Whatever he does during his spare time is his own business.

One again the FIA proves how little regard they have for the sanctity of the sport. "May the best man win."

Yeah, right.

Liz · 1 Oct 2002, 16:32 (Ref:393199)

No, what you do in your "spare time" is not your own business if what you do is contrary to the rules you were completely aware of when you broke them.

This is a hard lesson for Enge, but it is not only a lesson for him but for others: break the rules and you will be caught and when you are caught you will be punished. SO DON'T BREAK THE RULES.

P.S. This SHOULD be a reason to lose your Olympic medal; the fact that they allow cheaters to retain their medals speaks very ill of the Olympics Committee. Either enforce the rules or get rid of them.

Sato san · 1 Oct 2002, 16:52 (Ref:393237)

Bad one.....surley this could have been settled before the last race .....iTS lousy for both drivers to have it happen like this .

Marcel ten Caat · 1 Oct 2002, 17:11 (Ref:393273)

Just realised that Coloni still has an appeal running at the FIA against Wirdheim, Enge and Pizzonia.

If those 3 lose their points in Monza + Enge his points in Hungary and Pantano takes the 10 from Monza it will be different again

Quick calculation leads to:
Pantano 58
Bourdais 55
Enge 51

Russfeld · 1 Oct 2002, 17:13 (Ref:393277)

I agree rules have to be enforced, but the rule itself should not be there. Personal time is personal time, and its not even a performance enhancing substance.

Marcel ten Caat · 1 Oct 2002, 17:24 (Ref:393297)

right, ignore my comment, it seems like i had Belgian results taken out

Can anyone confirm that when all drivers move up 1 place in Hungary and top 3 of Monza is taken out with all drivers moving up that the ranking is:

Pantano 60
Bourdais 56
Enge 48

Total-F1 · 1 Oct 2002, 17:28 (Ref:393302)

But the rules are there - it's no good saying you think the rules are stupid - you still have to abide by them.

Speedworx · 1 Oct 2002, 17:39 (Ref:393313)

Enge didn't deserve to have the title taken away. He was the best driver in F3000 by miles and is the true champion.

Points as of now:

drivers:
Bourdais = 56
Pantano = 53
Enge = 48

teams:
Arden = 77
Coloni = 67
Super Nova = 58

Coloni would take both titles, if they win their appeal.

Russfeld · 1 Oct 2002, 18:39 (Ref:393353)

Quote:

Originally posted by Total-F1
But the rules are there - it's no good saying you think the rules are stupid - you still have to abide by them.

And that was my entire point. The rules are the rules, but that rule should not have been there to begin with.

Speed Demon · 1 Oct 2002, 20:24 (Ref:393407)

I bet Pantano is kicking himself now. If he could have passed Toccacello in Hungary, he would have been champ, even without the Monza appeal (which I think they'll lose)...

mac · 1 Oct 2002, 21:48 (Ref:393487)

Do the names Anthony Gobert and Noriyuki Haga mean anything to you.

Gobert was king of up-and-coming motorcycle racers. He had the world at his feet. Then he got busted for canabis use and now he's running around in the AMA. No team wanted to touch him.

Sadly, I suspect a similar fate for Tomas.

And, I agree with Liz.

**Adam43** · 1 Oct 2002, 22:24 (Ref:393513)

Enge is the F3000 champion of 2002.

**Adam43** · 1 Oct 2002, 22:37 (Ref:393522)

rules are rules.

I've never seen this applied to F1.

Andrew Kitson · 1 Oct 2002, 22:41 (Ref:393524)

The same rules apply in F1 too Adam. Random drug testing is done as it was with Enge. No-one has come up positive in any FIA tests up until Tomas.

Lee Janotta · 1 Oct 2002, 22:55 (Ref:393536)

Gah... This is freaky... Now I'm disagreeing with Liz and agreeing with Russfeld.

*Looks out the window for a wall of flame.*

Hmm... No apocolypse yet.

To call cannabis use "cheating" is just hyperbole, though. It's a performance DEGRADING substance... Well, unless you're an artist of some sort.

The rule is nothing but Conservative social engineering. Sporting bodies shouldn't involve themselves in such politics.

**Adam43** · 1 Oct 2002, 22:58 (Ref:393540)

I'm sorry, but IMO Enge is the F3000 2002 champion. Bordais agreed too, before the ruling too.

I am very anti-drug, but I also take the situation as it is.

Sorry, I'll shut up till I think about it some more.

Irv the Swerve · 1 Oct 2002, 23:32 (Ref:393560)

so what if he loses the title?
Some other driver will win it and life goes on.
An average driver does something harmless and loses a worthless title to another driver. The prize for winning such a boring title is usually a test drive in a car that competes in a mind numbingly boring computer controlled fix.
Motor racing is dead. So what if Enge puffed weed. Let him.

Russfeld · 1 Oct 2002, 23:38 (Ref:393566)

Racing drivers named Tomas havent done very well legally

NME · 2 Oct 2002, 00:09 (Ref:393583)

Did any of you stop to think of a simple thing like Tomas said NOT GUILTY ?!

The FIA convicted him without a confession. They have the medical proof but they didnt get a confession.

I dont know if it is really possible to have cannabis in your blood just because the guy next to you at the bar was smoking pot !? Is it possible?

By the way ... Tomas may be driving for Jordan next year !!!??? Did you know that ???

Russfeld · 2 Oct 2002, 00:18 (Ref:393587)

Laws are usually based on evidence, not what the accused admits to

DanFlag · 2 Oct 2002, 01:54 (Ref:393620)

I have to say I agree with Liz all the way

Fiorentina 1 · 2 Oct 2002, 05:30 (Ref:393672)

Enge is the 2002 F3000 champ!

When you consider that you can legaly buy cannabis down the street from the FIA headquarters in Geneva, it does seem pretty f***ing stupid that Tomas Enge should get punished for allegedly smoking grass!

Again, Tomas Enge is the 2002 F3000 champ!

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