WRC drivers protest FIA swearing ban at Safari Rally Kenya

World Rally Championship drivers have continued their stance opposing the FIA’s move to sanction drivers for using “inappropriate language” by limiting comments in stage-end interviews at Safari Rally Kenya.

Drivers refused to comment or only spoke in their mother tongue to explain why they are not commenting during stage-end interviews during Wednesday shakedown in Kenya. It is anticipated that this stance could continue throughout the remaining days of the event.

Fourmaux and Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta were among those that remained silent when television reporter Julian Porter posed a question at the end of the first shakedown run. Others chose to use their own language to explain why the drivers have decided to restrict comments in stage end interviews. 

The latest move from the WRC drivers comes after Hyundai driver Adrien Fourmaux became the first to be sanctioned under the FIA’s new motorsport-wide clampdown on “inappropriate language”.

Fourmaux was slapped with a €10,000 fine and hit with a suspended €20,000 fine for swearing during a television interview at the conclusion of Rally Sweden, last month. Fourmaux was deemed to have breached Article 12.2.1.l of the 2025 FIA International Sporting Code that covers use of “inappropriate language” after saying “we f***ed up yesterday” during an interview when referring to a messy start to stage 11.  

Since the fine was issued, leading WRC drivers and co-drivers have banded together to form the World Rally Drivers Alliance (WoRDA), similar to the Formula 1’s Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA). The newly formed alliance issued a lengthy statement directed at the FIA opposing the measures the governing body has taken to impose fines on drivers for swearing.

The statement called for communication with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem to find an “urgent solution” to the matter, stating the “severity of the sanctions imposed for minor, isolated and unintentional language lapses” have reached “an unacceptable level”.

A further statement read: “We all agree to keep rudeness at the microphone to a minimum. At the same time, it is necessary to maintain a certain freedom of expression and to keep emotions alive while drivers don’t need to be afraid of getting punished in any way. 

“We have asked the president of the FIA for some positive changes in the rules to help us achieve this goal.

“For the reasons explained in our statement, it is impossible for us to guarantee that we (drivers and co-drivers) will be able to follow these rules perfectly and systematically.

“This is why we – WoRDA members –  are now taking the responsible decision to remain silent at the end of the interviews or to answer in our mother tongue.In the own interest of our sport, such an action is unfortunately needed, and we apologize to all the rally fans, even though we know they support us in this.”

The FIA declined to directly respond to the statement when Motorsport.com contacted the FIA last month, and it is understood the governing body is yet to begin dialogue with WoRDA.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President

Photo by: McKlein / Motorsport Images

Toyota’s Kalle Rovanpera and Hyundai’s Ott Tanak were among those that explained the reasons for their latest actions in English when they reached the end of their first shakedown runs.

“It is nice to be here in Kenya but unfortunately you guys will not hear from me so much this weekend, and if that is the case of what we need to do to make a difference, we will do it,” said Rovanpera. 

Tanak added: “Unfortunately we need to go a bit different. I believe the first drivers [that have come through the stage] have explained the situation. As you can see the adrenaline can be quite high at the end of the stage, so unfortunately regarding the latest actions we can’t give any stage comments until it is again comfortable for the drivers.

“That is the way it is at the moment until a solution comes through and we can go back to normal.”