Aiello hits out at Mercedes pit decision

The former BTCC champion entered the pits behind Dumbreck, but a faster stop from his Abt Sportsline crew meant he was driving down the pit lane, approaching the AMG pit at the 80kph limit, when Dumbreck was told to go. Their collision was all the more dangerous as Marcel Fassler's Mercedes was having its wheels changed in the pits adjacent to the collision, but fortunately no one was hurt.

"I was really engaged in getting back into the race when they let him go right in front of me - it was dangerous," said Aiello, who did not blame Dumbreck for the incident. "Drivers go when we are told to, and we cannot see if there is a car coming or not."

Dumbreck said: "I had to be careful pulling out to avoid Fassler's car after I was released, then suddenly Aiello hit me square-on."

Aiello's Audi suffered a damaged splitter in the contact, causing him to spear off into the gravel at a high-speed, fourth gear corner. Dumbreck was given a stop/go penalty as punishment, but finished seventh.