A1 Team Ireland has lost its second place finish in this afternoon’s Feature race in the Vodafone A1GP Algarve, Portugal.

Following a stewards’ investigation tonight at the track, Adam Carroll was judged to have passed the Australian car of John Martin under safety car conditions at the second safety car restart of the race.

The team was given a 25-second penalty for the infringement, which drops them three places to fifth position.

Rules state that teams must cross the start/finish line after the Safety Car has pulled off before racing and therefore overtaking can resume.

With Ireland’s demotion, Portugal is promoted to second, Malaysia now scores a podium finish with a bronze medal, and Mexico is promoted to fourth place.

It means Ireland only scores seven points for the race rather than 13, and the championship battle has tightened up immensely.

Only six points cover the leading runners, with Switzerland holding the championship lead with 88 points, Ireland two behind on 86 and Portugal on 82.