Yohan Rossel’s Rally Chile win will stand after an FIA hearing into his notional time for the fog-affected SS11.
Rally Chile stewards had handed Rossel a notional time for SS11 that was 40 seconds faster than his original stage time, as he had found Oliver Solberg in his path after the Swede had stopped to change a puncture.
Toksport initially protested the decision after the rally, which Rossel won and Solberg finished fourth on, and that was dismissed.
But weeks later, FIA road sport director Andrew Wheatley requested for the case to be re-examined with new evidence that wasn’t initially available to the stewards – including onboard footage from Rossel’s car – coming to light.
A virtual hearing was held on Wednesday (October 16) with members of DG Sport, Citroën Racing and the FIA present to review that evidence and re-open the case, but the stewards decision remains “unaltered.”
This decision can be appealed, but any request t appeal must be submitted within 12 hours of the publication of the decision.
It means Rossel is still in contention for the WRC2 title, and if he wins this weekend’s Central European Rally he will eliminate Solberg from the championship reckoning.
Speaking on Thursday before the decision of the hearing had been communicated, Solberg told DirtFish: “If nothing happens, then obviously it’s very unfair for the championship. But if it does [a correction] happen, then everything is open again. So we’ll see.”
The full stewards verdict can be read here.
