Sports
WRC Drivers Stage Silent Protest at Safari Rally Over FIA Language Crackdown
World Rally Championship (WRC) drivers have launched a boycott of stage-end interviews in English at this week’s Safari Rally Kenya, protesting new FIA language guidelines.
The action follows a €10,000 fine imposed on Adrien Fourmaux for using profanity during a stage-end interview after the power stage in Sweden.
In response to the FIA’s stricter rules, all Rally1 drivers and co-drivers, along with some WRC2 participants, formed the World Rally Drivers’ Alliance (WoRDA).
In a statement released on February 24, WoRDA requested a meeting with FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, arguing that the “severity of sanctions for minor, isolated, and unintentional language lapses” is excessive given the adrenaline-fueled context of stage-end interviews.
No discussions with the FIA have occurred since.
The protest began during Wednesday’s shakedown stage at Safari Rally Kenya, the first event since WoRDA’s formation.
Elfyn Evans (Welsh) and Thierry Neuville (French) responded in their native languages, while others, including Fourmaux, remained silent.
Drivers plan to maintain this approach throughout the weekend.
Double world champion Kalle Rovanperä was the first to address the stance, saying, “Unfortunately, you won’t hear much from me this weekend, but if this is what it takes to make a difference, we’ll do it.”
Fellow champion Ott Tänak echoed the sentiment: “Adrenaline runs high at stage-end, and given recent actions, we can’t comment until it’s comfortable for drivers again. Hopefully, a solution comes soon.”
In a statement to DirtFish, WoRDA emphasized its position: “We agree to minimize rudeness at the microphone, but drivers need freedom of expression and the ability to show emotion without fear of punishment. We’ve asked the FIA president for rule changes to support this.” The group added, “It’s impossible to guarantee perfect compliance with these rules under current conditions, so WoRDA members will either stay silent or respond in our native languages. We regret the impact on fans, who we know support us, but this step is necessary for our sport.”
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