In doing so, the drivers made a statement regarding the actions of the international automobile federation, the FIA. The FIA handed Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux a €10,000 fine for swearing in a finish-line interview after a stage during Rally Sweden.
According to the drivers – and many others – this was a step too far, and the WRC drivers made their stance clear.
The protest has already had an effect. The FIA has now stepped into the public eye and announced it is in discussions with the drivers. The drivers believe that the FIA should not intervene so forcefully in what the drivers say – especially in so-called sweaty interviews, when emotions can run high immediately after a stage.
Hyundai’s Ott Tänak has not yet received any fines, but the Estonian has also often voiced his opinions openly. For example, last season he repeatedly criticised both event organisers and the stewards.
Eight-time world champion Sébastien Ogier has also made his mark in this regard. The Frenchman was fined €30,000 last season after criticising the organisers over starting intervals in Rally Greece. At the time, the general opinion was that Ogier was punished far too harshly.
Tänak was asked about the drivers’ interview boycott after Rally Kenya. The Estonian’s stance was made clear.
“We have not protested. We are not protesting. We are not fighting,” Tänak stated firmly.
“t’s just that, with the current regulation, we don’t feel comfortable giving stage-end interviews, and that’s the way it is. But nobody should describe it as a protest,” Tänak said.
