WRC teams diregard FIA request on Rally Mexico powerstage tactics
World Rally Championship teams have disregarded communication from the FIA asking them not to take a tactical approach to the Rally Mexico powerstage
Sebastien Ogier took penalties to start last month's Rally Sweden powerstage late in an effort to run further down the order when the road offered more grip. There is an expectation that the same thing will happen in Mexico on Sunday.
To defuse this situation, the teams were contacted by the governing body and advised to come up with a solution, however there is no rule prohibiting a late check-in at any control.
The teams have not come up with a solution and, as one senior source told Autosport: "How can it be our job to do this? Each team is going to do what is working the best for themselves. This is the job of the FIA."
Hyundai team manager Alain Penasse told Autosport: "There has been a precedent with Ogier.
"We thought about this same thing in Portugal with [Hayden] Paddon, but we didn't do it because of the ethics of the sport and the live television.
"But it's clear that if somebody did it once then we have to follow - there's no other solution.
"I don't say it's the wrong thing for Ogier. The rules are there and I would do the same in his position.
"He didn't do anything wrong, I give respect to the [M-Sport Ford] team. It takes balls to do what they did."
Citroen's Kris Meeke reiterated Penasse's feelings, but added: "Nobody could blame Seb for what he did in Sweden, it made complete sense.
"But after that event surely somebody could have come up with a simple regulation change to say that any late check-in for the powerstage would result in them losing any points if they finished in the top five.
"Something like that would have put an end to all of this.
"But now we go to the powerstage with the potential for there being nothing to show for 20 minutes - that'll be great live television."
WRC Rally Mexico: Ogier extends lead with four stage wins
Rally Mexico: Sebastien Ogier takes WRC championship lead with win
How Tanak turned the tables to deliver Hyundai a timely WRC triumph
The 2019 champion has been a bit-part player recently, but Ott Tanak ended a 15-month drought in fine style with a dominant win in Sardinia. On a weekend when championship leader Kalle Rovanpera struggled with cleaning the road, his Hyundai rival has made his belated arrival into the title race and given cause for those predicting a walkover from the Toyota star to pause
How Rovanpera overcame rallying royalty in Portugal to extend his WRC lead
Although the Rally Portugal entry list featured World Rally Championship royalty in Sebastiens Loeb and Ogier, victory was secured by rallying's rising star in Kalle Rovanpera. Here's the story of his 2022 hat-trick, as his key rivals faltered among the gravel and asphalt ahead of them
The former WRC star playing the unsung hero role for Rovanpera
Kalle Rovanpera’s 2022 World Rally Championship displays have been spectacular, with the Toyota driver benefitting from a secret weapon in his crew to win two of the opening three rallies. But while the former challenger to Sebastien Loeb won’t take credit for his fellow Finn's performances, a key bond has been formed which could prove key to Rovanpera’s title charge
How Rovanpera's Croatia turnaround sent a message to his WRC rivals
After a dominating Rally Croatia, a wrong tyre choice on the final day looked to have undone all Kalle Rovanpera's hard work and left him with a mountain to climb heading into the power stage. That he emerged the winner all the same has surely quelled any lingering doubts that the Finn is the man to beat in the 2022 WRC
How M-Sport's faith in Loubet led to a WRC reprieve after a dismal 2021
It's fair to say 2021 was a year to forget for Pierre-Louis Loubet. A maiden full World Rally Championship season offered hope but soon turned into a nightmare that ended in hospital, after being hit by a car in a road traffic accident. Now handed a lifeline by M-Sport, the Frenchman is desperate to rebuild his career
Why WRC mechanics deserve more respect
The drivers get the glare of attention, but it’s the mechanics who are key to the operation of any World Rally Championship car. Autosport donned a set of overalls and joined M-Sport on a Belgian national rally event to get an inside look into the trials and tribulations of a rally mechanic
The African McRae aiming to become a WRC pioneer
Taking his first step into the Junior World Rally Championship category, McRae Kimathi - named after 1995 world champion Colin - found himself in the unfamiliar climes of Sweden's snow and ice. Having impressed, Kimathi hopes to blaze a trail to the top level of WRC and help other African drivers to step onto the ladder
How Rovanpera grabbed the Rally Sweden spotlight after the Loeb vs Ogier show
After a blockbuster opening act to the new era of the World Rally Championship with the battle of the Sebastiens at Monte Carlo, Rally Sweden would be the first chance to assess the next superstar of rallying. While teething issues with the new hybrid power thwarted some of the cast, Kalle Rovanpera’s display gave him headline billing