The FIA medical delegate encountered a dangerous situation on Saturday morning while driving through the day’s opening stage. An unauthorised car had entered the test in the opposite direction and came close to colliding with the delegate’s vehicle.
The car gained access from the finish end of the stage, passing through a police control, the stop control and several marshal points.
The stewards highlighted to the clerk of the course and the chief safety officer that no communication was made from any of these points to Rally HQ. Rally HQ was only informed of the incident by the FIA medical delegate, who reported it to the FIA safety delegate.
Clerk of the course Kurt Horta admitted that communication had failed and apologised for the incident.
As a result, the organisers were reprimanded and handed a €15,000 fine, suspended on the condition that no further breaches of safety regulations occur at this or next year’s Rally Chile. The stewards also formally required the organisers to improve safety measures.
Furthermore, the stewards stated they have the authority to stop this weekend’s rally immediately should another safety issue arise on the final day.
Rally Chile concludes on Sunday with four stages, led by Toyota’s Sébastien Ogier.
