In an act of subdued rebellion, World Rally Championship drivers have communicated their discontent towards the FIA’s stringent measures against the use of expletives, by curtailing their interaction with the media. This unusual response was observed following the shakedown session at the Safari Rally Kenya on Wednesday.
The backlash comes in the wake of M-Sport Ford’s Adrien Fourmaux getting slapped with a hefty €10,000 fine, alongside an additional €20,000 suspended penalty, for his use of profanity during a television interview post the Rally Sweden in February. The World Rally Drivers Alliance (WoRDA) has since sought clarity on this issue.
The drivers’ silent protest was evident at the conclusion of the shakedown stage where most chose either to avoid the media or respond in their mother tongue. Notably, Fourmaux opted for silence while Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta non-verbally responded with a thumbs-up gesture. Championship frontrunner, Elfyn Evans, offered his comments in Welsh, whereas the 2024 champion Thierry Neuville conveyed his message in French.
Neuville expressed the drivers’ collective stance, stating, “You must be aware that there will be minimal communication from us this weekend. Each of us will communicate in our native language.” He added, “We regret the lack of communication between FIA and us. We are not individuals who resort to insults or offensive remarks. We empathize with the fans, but we had to make this collective decision.”
Kalle Rovanpera, a two-time WRC champion, was among the few who chose to respond in English, albeit briefly. He remarked, “It’s great to be here in Kenya. Regrettably, you might not hear much from me this weekend. If this is what we need to do to make an impact, we are up for it.”
Ott Tanak of Hyundai elaborated slightly in English, “This time, we have to take a different approach. I believe the first drivers (to finish the stage) have shed light on the situation. Adrenaline levels can spike towards the end of the stage, thus, based on recent actions, we cannot provide end-of-stage remarks until it’s again comfortable for us. That’s the current state of affairs. Hopefully, a feasible solution will come forth and we can return to normalcy.”
WoRDA issued a further statement post the shakedown stage, reading, “We unanimously agree to keep rudeness to a minimum at the microphone. Simultaneously, we must preserve a certain level of freedom of expression and keep emotions alive without fearing any penalty.” The statement also called for positive changes in the rules from the president of the FIA.
WoRDA members also confessed their inability to guarantee perfect and systematic adherence to these rules, leading them to take the decision to either remain silent at the end of interviews or to answer in their native language. The statement closed with an apology to rally fans, despite acknowledging their support for the drivers’ cause.
