The main sponsor of the Finnish World Rally Championship published a strong statement in which it opposes the participation of the Russians in the competition starting on Thursday.
Russian crasher Nikolai Grjazin has registered for the WRC2 class of the Finnish World Rally Championship. PDO
Secto Automotive, the main sponsor of the Finnish World Rally Championship, demands that Russian crashes be banned from the competition. The company published on its website position statement about the matter written by the CEO Matias Henkola.
– The situation is extremely embarrassing for us, read right at the beginning of the publication.
According to Henkola, the car leasing company has strongly supported Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia in February.
– As a company and with our staff, we have been working for the Ukrainian people since the beginning of the war. We have not only made donations to charity and the Ukrainian state war fund.
– In addition, with the help of our own staff and volunteers, we have delivered protective equipment and medical supplies directly to the front and brought refugees to Finland, Henkola wrote.
In the past, there is a ban on competition for Russian fighters demanded among other things, the chairman of the association Petteri Orpo.
Two Russian drivers and one cartographer have signed up for the rally.
– Secto’s opinion is, as is certainly clear from the aforementioned points: Russian drivers should not drive in Finland. If we had influence in this matter, we would use it. The Secto logo is not on the cars of Russian drivers.
The umbrella organization of the World Rally Championship, the FIA, has not prevented the Russians from competing. CEO of AKK-Motorsport ry Riku Bitter told STT last week that the competition will act according to the FIA’s instructions also in the case of the Russians.
The Finnish World Championship Rally starts in two days on Thursday.