The BRC Racing Team driver has lost his front row starting position for Race 1 in Barcelona after the Italian’s car was found to be missing its engine seals after qualifying.

In scrutineering, the technical delegate found that Covini’s Elantra N EV TCR did “not have the two engine seals placed on the upper part of the engine”.

According to the stewards’ decision, the team could not explain how this had occurred.

Covini had qualified in second place, which would have reversed to ninth for Race 2.

The stewards decision confirmed that under the sporting regulations, the “breaking of any seal Will be considered as a change of engine”, and applied the penalty of 20-place grid penalties for both races, which demotes Covini to the back of the 20-car field.

Victor Chan is now promoted to the front row of Race 1, forming an all-Honda front row, with the CUPRAs of Mikhail Simonov and Adam Shepherd moved up to row 2.