Craig Breen reprimanded, but still leader in Sweden

At the end of a long, already lively day, the 70^e sleeve edition Swedish almost experienced an additional turnaround. After a report from the FIA ​​deputy technical delegate, the Stewards summoned Craig Breen, James Fulton, Pablo Marcos le team manager de Hyundai qui est en partance et Tolga Ozakinci qui va le remplacer. Cette réunion tardive a été motivée par le fait que la i20 Rally1 N°42 n’avait pas parcouru en mode électrique (EV) toute la zone imposée entre le TC1B et le TC2 jeudi soir. Ces espaces sont une des nouveautés introduites l’an dernier avec l’apparition de l’hybride.

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Breen explained that his car refused to start normally when leaving parc ferme and that he therefore engaged EV mode in a 300m zone where it was not mandatory. Arriving at checkpoint TC1B, discussions by telephone with the team allowed the crew to start the combustion engine. In order to ensure that he could move and knowing that if he turned off his engine he would not be able to restart it, Breen and Fulton entered the 100% electric zone with this mode of propulsion for approximately 30 m, then they switched to hybrid as indicated in the road book.

The scenario described by the pilot was confirmed by recorded data provided by Hyundai. Although the crew violated article 34.1.7, the Stewards decided to only reprimand him and the team, which allows the Irishman to still be leader of the rally Saturday morning.