WRC Drivers Stage Media Boycott Over FIA's Swearing Penalties at Safari Rally
World Rally Championship drivers have actively protested the FIA's recent crackdown on swearing by limiting their media responses following Wednesday's shakedown at Safari Rally Kenya.
Men celebrate with championship trophy
The protest comes after M-Sport Ford's Adrien Fourmaux received a €10,000 fine and a suspended €20,000 penalty for swearing during a post-Rally Sweden interview in February. In response, the World Rally Drivers Alliance (WoRDA) demanded clarification on the policy.
During Wednesday's shakedown interviews, drivers either remained silent, like Fourmaux, or opted to speak in their native languages. Championship leader Elfyn Evans spoke Welsh, while 2024 champion Thierry Neuville explained the situation in French, stating that drivers would limit communication due to the lack of dialogue with the FIA.
Two-time WRC champion Kalle Rovanpera, one of the few speaking English, kept his response brief, indicating the protest was necessary to create change. Hyundai's Ott Tanak explained that high adrenaline levels at stage endings make it challenging to control emotions, necessitating the temporary communication restriction.
WoRDA later released a statement acknowledging their commitment to maintaining respectful communication while advocating for reasonable freedom of expression. The organization emphasized the need for drivers to express emotions without fear of punishment and explained their decision to either remain silent or use their native languages during interviews.
The drivers apologized to fans for the protest action while noting it was necessary to achieve positive changes in the sport's rules regarding driver expression and emotional responses during interviews.