Kai Allen at the Perth Super440. Image: Supplied
That’s the simple explanation from industry veteran Paul Morris amid the unfolding saga over the controversial decision not to penalise Kai Allen on Sunday at the Perth Super440.
Stewards cited a series of mitigating factors in electing to take no action despite two of his tyres having read below the 16 psi minimum while on the grid.
Supercars has lodged a notice of intention to appeal but is yet to make public comment on the matter.
It’s believed to be the first time Supercars has taken such a stance, highlighting the distinction between Supercars officials and Motorsport Australia stewards.
Grove Racing expressed shock at Supercars’ move when news of the action emerged this morning.
Stewards noted Allen’s tyres were within an “acknowledged TPMS (tyre pressure sensor monitoring) accuracy of 0.4 psi”, which raised eyebrows within the industry.
“They were under the minimum tyre pressure and that’s just the same as being underweight or over fuel capacity,” noted Morris on social media.
“It’s just a measurement you can’t go below and there’s never really been any tolerance for it.
“Teams make allowances to make sure they don’t go under, and this is the crux of the matter why Supercars are appealing.
“The reason they’re appealing is if they don’t, every other team in pit lane will be up in arms, and the whole integrity of tyre pressure monitoring will be out the window.
“[Then] you might as well get rid of it. So that’s why they’re doing it.”
Morris said Grove did a “better job of defending the case” than Supercars did of prosecuting it.
“When you read the transcript of the stewards’ decision, they just do a ripper job of confusing the stewards,” he added.
“That’s all they did and any team would do the same, that’s their job, to try and get themselves off the hook.
“They’ve made a simple little mistake. They haven’t allowed for the cooler conditions on the grid.
“They’ve gone under and unfortunately, under’s under, it should be a disqualification from the race.”
How Allen escaped disqualification despite tyre breaches
The minimum pressure rule was introduced as a safety measure following Lee Holdsworth’s tyre failure and heavy crash at the 2014 Sandown 500.
Supercars has adjusted the minimum figure over time, with the exact number having a major impact on how hard drivers can push during races.
“Just get rid of the tyre pressure monitoring, it’s something that we don’t need,” added Morris.
“Maybe this is the catalyst just to scrap the idea and just let the teams get on with it.”
It’s not the first controversy involving minimum tyre pressures and the policing of the rule.
At Hidden Valley in 2021, Nick Percat was able to keep his third-place finish despite two tyres having dipped below the minimum while on the grid.
In that case BJR had self-reported the issue and was given permission to change the offending tyres before the race started.
Stewards ultimately elected only to strip BJR of the teams’ championship points awarded in that race, despite noting the recommended penalty is disqualification.
Jake Kostecki’s Matt Stone Racing Commodore was disqualified at the very next event for a tyre pressure breach while on the grid.
More recent tyre pressure related cases have involved the sensors not being fitted (Walkinshaw TWG, Sydney 2026) or not working (MSR, Taupo 2025).
The former example resulted in disqualification for Chaz Mostert, while the latter netted a fine and teams’ points penalty.