Neuville Excluded from Powerstage Win After Unauthorised Person Travels on Rally Route

Thierry Neuville and co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe were stripped of their eighth-place finish and the five bonus points for winning the powerstage at the Safari Rally Kenya. The FIA stewards determined that an unauthorised person had travelled on or over the route of two Special Stages after reconnaissance without authorisation.

Neuville’s Admissions

Neuville admitted in a stewards hearing that he was aware of the identified person and had requested the person’s support in identifying specific concerns in some special stages. He apologised for his lapse in judgement. The FIA stewards summarised the findings of the report received from the Clerk of Course that was initiated independently by the Rally Organiser. The report indicated instances where an unauthorised person was seen driving on routes that would be used as Special Stages over the course of the Rally. The person was on private property without authorisation and was stopped by Officials in two different locations on two different days. The evidence presented to the Stewards indicated links of this person to the Crew of Car No. 11.

Consequences

The loss of the nine points amassed in Kenya has dropped Neuville from second to fifth in the championship, 47 points behind leader Kalle Rovanpera. Rovanpera has gained an extra powerstage point from Neuville’s exclusion and now leads the championship by 41 points over Toyota team-mate Elfyn Evans. The disqualification is yet another blow to Neuville’s title hopes after suffering a front-left suspension failure that resulted in a retirement from fourth on Friday. He rejoined the rally on Saturday where he had recovered to eighth and a powerstage win. Confirmation of Neuville’s exclusion means M-Sport’s Ott Tanak has been declared the winner of the Safari Rally Kenya powerstage.

Final Thoughts

The incident highlights the importance of adhering to rally rules and regulations and the seriousness with which any violations are treated. Neuville’s exclusion from the powerstage win serves as a reminder to all competitors that even minor infractions can have significant consequences. It is essential that all teams and drivers follow the rules to ensure fair competition and the safety of all involved.