Saturday’s closing round of the Sardinian World Rally Championship didn’t quite go to the button on behalf of the organizers.
Ott Tänak survived the harsh situation of the final decision. AOP
The fast track was briefly stabbed across the M-Sport Ford Adrien Fourmaux’n due to expulsion. The organizers towed Fourmaux from the Ford Puma ditch to a safe place, after which the clip was allowed to continue.
The top drivers of the rally set out to roast in a special stage after the break, but for some reason one of the officials showed a red flag at least to M-Sport Ford To Craig Breen and competition-leading Hyundai Ott Tänakille.
Breen slowed down as soon as he saw the red flag. Today, on the other hand, he kept a patch on the floor after the flag, but later loosened his gas foot.
There is a strict section in the rules for such situations.
– The rule says that then you have to slow down. It may not have gone that way for everyone, Toyota Sports CEO Kaj Lindström told the evening service.
– But to put it another way: if a radio point has a manual flag (a flag waved by an officer), the officer must be in a way that is sure to show. It was nicely seen on the on-board camera, but if the driver comes to the place two hundred and doesn’t look in the direction of the ticket, he may not see the ticket, Lindström also referred to the case today.
The competition management finally made a decision on the matter. Today was not punished, but he and the other riders during the red flag received calculated times.
– The situation was very confusing and annoying for the organizers, but an error occurred.
Today starts the race to the end of the race with a lead of 46 seconds ahead of M-Sport Ford Breen. Hyundain Dani Sordo is third in the race. The top driver in the World Series Kalle Rovanperä holds fifth place.
The World Rally Championship in Sardinia ends on Sunday, when there are four special stages in the program.