Nikolay Gryazin penalized, Yohan Rossel winner of WRC2 in Monte-Carlo

While the service park was quietly emptying of its vehicles, the panel of stewards officiating on the 91st edition of the Rally Monte-Carlo (January 19-22) published a press release stating that Nikolay Gryazin violated article 19.2 of the sporting regulations of the WRC 2023 from the FIA ​​during SS14.

Through the videos that were viewed, it was shown that the driver of the Skoda RS Rally2 had cut a turn at 13,2 km of this time, not respecting the rule which stipulates that a car must always have 2 wheels on the tar.

In response to the complaint made by the PH-Sport team which is handling Yohan Rossel's car, the officials agreed with the French team and gave a 5s penalty to Gryazin.

Initially winner of the category with a lead of 4s5, the Russian slipped to 2nd place. Rossel is therefore the winner of the WRC2 round at the end of Monte-Carlo, with a margin of half a second.

Between Toksport, which fields the Skodas, and Citroën, which supports different teams, there is a dispute which has been going on since Ypres (Belgium) last year. While Stéphane Lefebvre had largely won, Toksport lodged a protest after sending one of its members to make videos of a corner where it was tempting to cut.

The panel of commissioners had indeed sanctioned the Frenchman, but not enough to “offer” victory to Andreas Mikkelsen. Has Citroën just given back to the team based in Germany? It seems like it. Except this time it worked.