Rally Italy Sardinia winner Sébastien Ogier has been fined €1500 for removing some of his safety gear on the approach to the stop control of SS13.
Ogier won the sixth round of the 2025 World Rally Championship by 7.9 seconds over Ott Tänak – breaking the record for the most victories in Sardinia (five) in the process.
The result also moved him up to second place in the championship, 19 points behind Toyota team-mate Elfyn Evans.
But Ogier has been penalized by event stewards for unfastening his seat belts, removing his gloves and opening the chin strap of his helmet between the flying finish and stop control of Sunday’s opening stage: San Giacamo – Plebi 1.
That contravened Article 53.1 of the WRC sporting regulations detailing equipment of crews, which stipulates all safety gear must remain in place until the car has stopped at the stop control.
In a hearing with the stewards, Ogier explained his actions were “out of a reflex” and not intentional, and apologized for his lapse.
He won the stage in question by 4.5s over Tänak.
