WRC drivers continue stage-end silence until “clear way forward” with FIA

World Rally Championship drivers will continue to limit stage-end comments until they have a “clear way forward” following dialogue with the FIA, according to Elfyn Evans.

WRC drivers remained silent or offered limited comments in their native languages during Wednesday’s shakedown at this weekend’s Safari Rally Kenya, in response to the FIA’s move to sanction drivers for using “inappropriate language” in stage-end interviews. The stance was triggered by the €10,000 fine issued to Adrien Fourmaux for swearing in a television interview at the end of Rally Sweden last month.

The drivers maintained their solidarity on the issue at stage ends on Thursday after the FIA confirmed yesterday that it plans to open dialogue with the drivers on the matter after this weekend’s rally.

Fourmaux, renowned for his humorous and insightful stage-end interviews, did speak in English after the opening test, but chose to say only “Hakuna matata”, before driving away from the television reporter. 

Championship leader Evans believes there is a solution that is “suitable to everyone”, while Toyota team-mate Kalle Rovanpera stated that “we just need to find a good compromise with everybody”. 

“I was expecting that some dialogue could get opened [before the rally] and that is what I guess we are all working and aiming towards,” said Evans.

“It is about creating a dialogue to find a way forward that is suitable for everyone. There are answers there, but we just need to discuss.

“I think we all agree that we won’t be talking so much until we have a clear way forward, and that is all we want really.”

Rovanpera added: “I think this was an important move [from the drivers] because we have felt that we haven’t been treated fairly.

“I think this is a way to show that we drivers never mean anything bad. This is just sport, and we are in the heat of the moment. We just need to find a good compromise between everybody.”

Likewise, Hyundai’s Ott Tanak is confident. “I’m sure there will be some kind of solution because the punishment solution is not a fix,” he said.

“We understand the situation, but this sport is really high adrenaline and then you put a microphone in the face 30 seconds after a flying finish, everything is fully hot [heated].

“It is the same at home: if something happens and you are boiling [heated], you are not going to fix, let’s say, something with the children. First you calm down, and then you go and discuss [the matter].”

Tanak leads as Fourmaux becomes first victim of Safari

Ott Tänak, Martin Järveoja, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

Tanak emerged from the opening two tests of the rally with a slender lead in what proved to be a bittersweet day for Hyundai.

Tanak headed to service with a 2.4s lead over Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta, who was fortunate not to hit trouble in stage two (Mzabibu, 8.27km).

Katsuta was up on the splits and heading to take the rally lead when he ran wide and somehow managed to thread his GR Yaris between a shed and concrete block, which could have severely dented his rally hopes.

The Japanese driver ultimately ended the stage 1.1s behind Tanak, who was the only Hyundai driver to complete the test, featuring wet and muddy sections, without trouble.

Fourmaux held sixth after the Kasarani side-by-side super special in Nairobi, but his i20 N failed to start prior to the beginning of stage two, due to a suspected electrical issue. The Frenchman will cop a 10-minute penalty should he restart tomorrow.

Team-mate Thierry Neuville did manage to complete stage two, although his i20 N suffered a drop in speed towards the end of the test, resulting in a 20.4s time loss as the world champion slumped from second to 11th.

“It is a very frustrating start as we have been hit by some trouble already, but it is better today than tomorrow morning. We will investigate now and try to find out what is the issue,” said Neuville.  

M-Sport’s Gregoire Munster delivered a blistering time in stage two, ending the day in third (+2.6s) ahead of two-time winner Rovanpera (+3.0s), who seems to be adjusting well to Hankook’s gravel tyres.

Championship leader Evans led the rally after winning the super special stage, but dropped to fifth after stage two, 4.5s in arrears.