WRC
WRC drivers respond to FIA with 'word strike'
© DPPI
The official interviewers of the WRC may not receive answers to their questions during this third meeting of the season, in Kenya. Posted at the finish of each special, their role is to collect the riders' first impressions at the end of each timed section. During the Shakedown, one by one, the riders dodged questions relating to their first pass on the Kenyan specials. Elfyn Evans, for example, spoke in Welsh. The translations will therefore be more than approximate over the next few days! Kalle Rovanperä then Ott Tänak They explained in the language of Shakespeare the reason for their silence.
"It's good to be here in Kenya, but unfortunately you won't be hearing much from me this weekend. If this is what we need to do to make a difference, we will do it.", said the Finn. "We have to do things differently this time. The first drivers explained the situation; the adrenaline can be high after the stages. We can't give any feedback after the stages until it's comfortable for the drivers again. I hope a solution will be found soon so we can get back to normal.", Tänak then explained.
The reigning world champion, Thierry Neuville, spoke out for the movement. This follows the creation of the World Rally Drivers Association (WoRDA), which was formed following the €10 fine received by Adrien fourmaux for comments that did not please the FIA in Sweden. The French driver did not utter a single word at the finish of the Shakedown this Wednesday.
"We are very disappointed because we have not been able to establish any dialogue with the FIA.", explained the Belgian pilot. "In the five weeks between Sweden and Kenya, we communicated very clearly with our association, WoRDA, and the FIA remained silent. We unanimously decided to take action and not give interviews at the finish of the stages, or only in our mother tongue, except after the longest stage. For us, it is important to react. We are always open to dialogue with the FIA because that is what we want, we want to find an acceptable solution. We will do our job this weekend, focusing on driving. We are sorry for the fans, but we also believe that there are a lot of them who support us!"
ALSO READ > Kalle Rovanperä wakes up during the Shakedown in Kenya
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dedeHJ37
19/03/2025 at 06:43 a.m.
MBS has stretched a rubber band that is coming back up his nose and it is well deserved, he has no moral or right-thinking lessons to give when we know what human and women's rights are under his regime
Michel Vaillant
19/03/2025 at 03:41 a.m.
It's quite interesting this way of reducing someone to their geographic origins while denying them the right to be called by their name by reducing them to three initials that equate them with a man whose actions are much more dramatic, important and reprehensible... Who, as luck would have it, is not blond with blue eyes... That said, from what we read, Bin Sulayem has heard the criticisms made against him but has not changed his mind (which is regrettable, obviously). This is not necessarily autocracy, which moreover and moreover implies that all decisions come from him. It remains to be seen who will win the "Can we say bad words?" competition. Which is probably not, I agree with what has already been said, the best way to defend one's sport. One can also wonder how "hot" interviews, here as elsewhere, would be. On-board cameras (we already have quite a few in rallying, fortunately) and interventions by technicians and, more broadly, specialists would contribute much more to this, in my opinion. But clearly the promoter (name needs to be revised, I think) of the WRC doesn't see things that way...
Hilton Leon
19/03/2025 at 01:00 a.m.
From what they say, it's not a loss. The WRC is in bad enough shape. Saw off the branch they're sitting on.
French
19/03/2025 at 12:53 a.m.
The drivers are absolutely right to stop communicating; this speech policing is nonsense. It poses a fundamental problem: the drivers, engineers, technicians, and team managers are harshly selected and in fierce competition with each other, but clearly, the method of selecting the leaders of this sport is flawed; it's vain idiots who are in charge.
Yves-Henri RANDIER
19/03/2025 at 11:37 a.m.
"We are very disappointed because we have not been able to establish any dialogue with the FIA." Dialogue with the FIA and its president is impossible, unfortunately illustrating the autocratic culture of the Emirati MBS! At least WRC drivers have more balls than F1 drivers.