Following the events of Rally Sweden, WRC drivers established WoRDA, their own representative body, which issued a statement regarding Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux receiving a fine for swearing in a finish-line interview. The association aimed to initiate a dialogue with the FIA and its president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, to find a mutually acceptable resolution.
Drivers do not agree with the FIA’s harsh policy on swearing. Post-stage interviews take place immediately after intense driving, when adrenaline and emotions are still running high. Many believe that the raw emotion displayed in these interviews is one of the best aspects of the sport.
The FIA remained silent on WoRDA’s open letter until Wednesday, when the drivers staged their protest during Safari Rally Kenya’s shakedown stage. To make their message clear, they refused to give proper interviews at the end of the stage.
Read more: WRC drivers carry out their protest – silence at Safari Rally
Reportedly, FIA president Ben Sulayem sent a message to WoRDA members just ten minutes before Wednesday morning’s shakedown stage began. However, this last-minute communication did not persuade the drivers to abandon their planned protest.
Additionally, on Wednesday, an FIA spokesperson addressed the situation in broader terms, referring to the governing body’s code of conduct, which outlines expectations for drivers and teams. The FIA confirmed that discussions with drivers regarding the matter will take place after Safari Rally Kenya.
Read also: WRC stars explain their bold protest: “We apologise to all rally fans”
At the centre of the controversy, Hyundai driver Adrien Fourmaux remains baffled by the FIA’s rigid approach. He shared his thoughts in an interview with Belgian broadcaster RTBF.
“I always try to be positive at the end of a stage, make people laugh, and bring something new. I made a mistake, but it wasn’t a big one. I didn’t criticise anyone – I was just criticising myself. Plus, English isn’t my native language, so sometimes I struggle to find the right words,” Fourmaux said.
“I’m a bit disappointed that it has come to this today. I also need clarification because the fine seems excessive. And the suspended penalty could even lead to us being excluded from a future event. It’s difficult when we’re expected to show emotions at the end of a stage, but if we say one wrong word, we get punished.”
Throughout the Safari Rally weekend, drivers plan to either remain silent in post-stage interviews or respond only in their native languages.
Safari Rally Kenya gets underway on Thursday with two special stages.
