Hyundai World Rally Team has been reprimanded and handed a suspended €5000 fine as a team member was spotted taking pictures of other competitors’ cars in parc fermé during Acropolis Rally Greece.
All competing cars in the World Rally Championship head into parc fermé at the end of each leg, before drivers and co-drives retrieve them the following morning. The cars cannot be touched when parked in parc fermé.
Having received a report from the FIA technical delegate assistant, the stewards have punished Hyundai as one of its crew was spotted taking photographs at TC12D on Saturday evening.
The €5000 fine is suspended for 12 months, subject to no further breach of a similar nature.
The team breached Article 2.13 of the WRC’s sporting regulations, centering on parc fermé, which states that “any operation, checking, tuning or repair on the car is not allowed unless expressly provided for by these regulations or by the supplementary regulations of the rally and where only authorised officials are admitted”.
As per Acropolis Rally Greece’s supplementary regulations, one team member is allowed to enter parc fermé 20 minutes before the competing car’s due start time to check the hybrid system is working properly.
But that does not permit them to take photos with their mobile phone.
Hyundai’s team manager Tolga Ozakinci was “made aware of this incident shortly after it occurred” but pointed out in the stewards hearing that “this team member was new in this role, was acting in his own accord and was taking photos for his own personal remembrances”.
Ozakinci also made clear that this action was not requested by Hyundai. He apologized for the lack of judgement, but said Hyundai could not have gained an advantage through the photographs “especially in light of this rally’s unique itinerary i.e. not having the usual scheduled morning service after release from parc fermé”.
The guilty team member joined the hearing at a later stage and corroborated Ozakinci’s account of events, confirming he was “unaware of the regulatory limitations of his action”.
He apologized and “took the onus of responsibility for his actions”.
The incident does not affect Hyundai’s Acropolis result. Dani Sordo claimed a podium finish in third while Esapekka Lappi came home fifth.
