World Rally Championship drivers appear set to boycott stage-end interviews in English at this week’s Safari Rally Kenya.
Following Adrien Fourmaux’s €10,000 fine for using the F-word in a stage-end interview after the powerstage in Sweden – imposed due to new language guidelines from the FIA – all Rally1 drivers and co-drivers, and some WRC2, unionized to form the World Rally Drivers’ Alliance (WoRDA).
In a statement, WoRDA asked for a meeting with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem to discuss the matter, and argued the adrenaline coursing through their bodies at stage-end made the “severity of sanctions for minor, isolated and unintentional language lapses” now at an “unacceptable level”.
That statement was released on February 24, but it is understood that no discussion has taken place between the drivers and the FIA since.
Wednesday’s shakedown stage at Safari Rally Kenya put the drivers in front of the stage-end cameras for the first time since the formation of WoRDA, and they chose to take a stand.
Elfyn Evans (Welsh) and Thierry Neuville (French) provided responses in their native language, while others – like Fourmaux – simply said nothing at all.
It’s understood that drivers will take this approach for the entire weekend.
Double world champion Kalle Rovanperä was the first to explain where the drivers stood. He said: “Unfortunately you guys don’t hear from me so much this weekend, but if that’s what we need to do to make a difference, we will do it.”
Fellow world champion Ott Tänak added: “Unfortunately this time we need to go a bit different. I believe [the] first drivers explained the situation.
“Like you can see already here, adrenaline can be quite high at the end of the stage, so unfortunately regarding the latest actions we can’t give any end of stage comments until it’s again comfortable for the drivers.
“That’s the way it is at the moment. Hopefully the solution comes soon and we can go back to normal.”
In a fresh statement provided to DirtFish, WoRDA said: “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.”
