Manor ORECA handed seven minute stop-go penalty for Nurburgring WEC

The stewards penalised Jonathan Hirschi for a collision with Stefan Mucke's #66 Ford GT during Friday's second practice session, which was halted for 10 minutes because a photographer was standing in the runoff area at Turn 5.

After the red flag came out, Hirschi collided with Mucke's Ford at Turn 8. The stewards handed the #24 Manor a seven-minute stop and go penalty to be served during Sunday's six-hour race.

"During a red flag situation in free practice two, car #24 overtook car #66 in Turn 8 and there was a collision between the two cars and car #24 spun," a stewards' statement read.

"The stewards considered that this incident was a serious fault from driver of car number #24. His explanations to check his speed limiter are not excusing his behaviour."

Hirschi has also received another suspended seven-minute stop-and-go in case of a new red flag infraction during any of the next three WEC events.

By serving the penalty, the #24 Manor, which Hirschi shares with Roberto Merhi and Tor Graves, is expected to lose at least four laps at the start of the race.

The German photographer who caused the red flag was banned for all future WEC and European Le Mans Series events, having been standing between the racetrack and the barriers on the outside of one of the fastest corners of the track.

The #26 G-Drive ORECA of Roman Rusinov, Pierre Thiriet and Ben Hanley will also serve a three-minute stop-and-go penalty in Germany after a clash between Rusinov and the #88 Proton Porsche in last month's Le Mans 24 Hours.