The FIA has confirmed it will open dialogue with the World Rally Drivers’ Alliance (WoRDA) following this week’s Safari Rally Kenya.
Via WoRDA, the drivers first outlined their concerns after Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux became the first person to be fined under Appendix 12.2.1 of the FIA’s revised International Sporting Code. Rally Sweden stewards imposed a €30,000 fine (€20,000 of which was suspended) after the Frenchman swore in his post-powerstage interview.
WoRDA was formed in the days following, with the organization confirming a letter had been sent to the FIA president on February 24.
The drivers confirmed an email response arrived on Wednesday morning, but this had been the only communication in the three weeks since the letter was sent.
WRC2 driver Gus Greensmith told DirtFish: “We haven’t had any dialogue from Mohammed [Ben Sulayem] until, ironically, about 10 minutes before shakedown. I think that was a particularly well-timed email.
“I think that sort of sums it up: there’s been no communication [before Wednesday morning]. There has been no resolution. And there is a point where, from my point of view, that I feel still quite disgusted by the level of these fines, €10,000 for a swear.
“And I could understand, you know, in an interview with people watching, you don’t want to swear, I do understand that. But it’s €10,000, the average salary in Europe is €37,000, so [we’re] looking at over a quarter of someone’s salary. On a fine, it just shows that we don’t seem to be in touch with the real world.”
DirtFish contacted the governing body for comment, and an FIA spokesperson said: “The FIA, as with many other international sports governing bodies, maintains a code of conduct that sets out what we expect from drivers and their teams. Drivers are looked up to as role models by young fans and are ambassadors for motorsport across the world.
“How drivers act at events really matters. The code’s purpose is to promote the best in sportsmanship and respect, this includes expectations around language which could be seen as offensive or inappropriate by the public.
“The rules and penalties are in line with those taken by our peer organisations in global sports championships.
“We recognize that it is crucial to assess situations on a case-by-case basis, but unnecessary profanity should not be condoned and does little to help promote and grow the sport with fans, sponsors, and partners.
“In line with a similar meeting held with Formula 1 drivers in Melbourne last weekend, Ronan Morgan, president of the Drivers Committee along with Petter Solberg, vice president of the Committee and Emilia Abel, junior road sport director are planning to discuss this matter and other topics with drivers after the Safari Rally Kenya.”
Neuville is disappointed the FIA didn't direcrly espond to WoRDA's call for discussion, but not surprised
Reigning World Rally champion Thierry Neuville provided more insight into the situation from the drivers’ perspective.
He told DirtFish: “We all know about the situation from Sweden with Adrien [Fourmaux], but also the regulations which came out recently about swearing – if we can call it like this – and drivers do not agree with what is written in those regulations and how it’s used.
“The recent happenings in Sweden show that we need to discuss together with the FIA about these regulations and find a way and a kind of compromise because, I mean, I don’t remember any one of us really swearing or shouting or being impolite with any people, organizations, FIA or team members or whatever.
“But sometimes people need to understand as well that we are under lots of adrenaline, lots of pressure, fighting, working hard. And when you lose a good result or you have problems, for sure, sometimes it’s very difficult to stay calm.
“I mean, it’s not only about trying to shout and make a show. No, for us, it’s really the pure emotions we live at that time when you see the hard work you put into [the sport]. And when things go wrong, it goes wrong. And everybody of us has used some words, sometimes, which maybe we regret afterwards, maybe we don’t.
“That’s why we want a clear and open discussion with the FIA.”
Asked if he was surprised at the lack of a response before Wednesday, he added: “I don’t know how many of those people from the FIA don’t want to talk or openly chat. As I understood, there’s only [a] very few people who do not want to open discussion, but it is what it is. I mean disappointed clearly, very disappointed in the five weeks’ [since Sweden] there has been no communication. But not surprised.”
Neuville added that the WoRDA decision to offer no English language comment at the end of stages was expected to run for this week’s Safari Rally Kenya only.
“It will be for this weekend and then hopefully we can engage in a successful discussion with the FIA,” he said. “I think we want the best for the sport and that’s why we also decided to openly speak to the media in media zones and regroups and whatever, but just stay quiet where we are under emotion. We do not want to risk any high fines, whatever.
“We prefer to stay calm until we have a clearer view on that topic.”
