Sordo keeps Rally Italy win despite post-event WRC scrutiny failure

An inspection of the Spaniard's Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC showed the rear subframe to be underweight.

The part in question was shown to total 9112g with the minimum permissible weight being 9136.5g.

Checks were also carried out on the cars belonging to Sordo's team-mates Ott Tanak, Thierry Neuville - who finished second on the Mediterranean island event - and Hyundai junior driver Pierre-Louis Loubet.

Despite their machines being held for some time in parc ferme all three were deemed to comply with the regulations.

Hyundai Motorsport was found to be in breach of Article 10.3.3 of the FIA International Sporting Code with Sordo's car, with team principal Andrea Adamo saying the rule break - which incurred a fine totalling 30,000 Euros - was the result of a "quality control checking error" by his team.

Only 10,000 Euros of the fine must be paid by Hyundai as event stewards Iain Campbell, Andrew Kellitt and Edoardo Delleani suspended the remainder subject to no further breach of a similar nature at any event within the next 12 months.

It their written judgement, the stewards said: "The Stewards heard the competitor's representatives Mr Andrea Adamo, Team Principal and Mr Alan Penasse, Team Manager on Sunday, 11 October, 2020 at 19.40 hrs in the presence of the FIA Technical Delegate, Mr Jerome Touquet, and the FIA Deputy Technical Delegate, Mr Karmo Ulusmaa.

"Mr Adamo agreed that the part was under the homologated acceptance and that the scrutineering and weight procedures were carried out correctly.

"He then explained that this was a quality control checking error and at no point was any sporting advantage tried to be achieved.

"The rear subframe that was on car no.6 [Sordo's] on Saturday was also checked and complied with the homologated weight.

Mr Adamo apologised for their lapse in the checking of the weight, " they added.

With the ruling not affecting the final results it means that Sordo holds on to his Rally Italia Sardinia victory, his third in the World Rally Championship, beating team-mate Neuville by just 5.1 seconds.