The news of Fourmaux’s retirement came a couple of hours after the podium ceremony. Hyundai decided to retire the Frenchman before the final time control.
The team has not yet officially explained the decision, but it is understood that Hyundai opted for retirement so they can change parts on his car without penalty – parts also connected to the upcoming Rally Chile.
Fourmaux had been in position for second place and the best result of his WRC career, but a late rain shower on the Power Stage cost him dearly. He dropped behind Toyota’s Elfyn Evans and team-mate Thierry Neuville, finishing fourth – just 2.3 seconds adrift of Evans in second.
The retirement promoted team-mate Ott Tänak to fourth and Toyota’s Kalle Rovanperä to fifth, meaning both drivers collected two extra points for their championship fights.
Fourmaux’s removal from the classification did not affect Hyundai’s manufacturers’ points tally.
Evans now leads the championship with a seven-point gap over Rovanperä. Rally winner Sébastien Ogier is third, nine points off the lead. Before Fourmaux’s retirement, Ogier and Rovanperä had been tied on points.
Tänak sits 18 points behind Evans with four rounds remaining.
Check the full WRC standings here!
The next WRC round takes place in less than two weeks in Chile.
