Ford and Citroen agree not to repeat final-day tactics

World Rally Championship manufacturer teams Ford and Citroen have welcomed a reminder that the use of tactics on this week’s Rally of Turkey will be investigated by the event stewards.

Six-time world champion Sebastien Loeb had led calls for a change to the regulations in time for the fourth round of the series, following the use of tactics on the previous round, the Jordan Rally.

The stewards of the Rally of Turkey issued a bulletin yesterday reminding all competitors of Article 151 (c) of the International Sporting Code which relates to sporting behaviour and the potential for bringing the sport into disrepute.

The bulletin stated: “Please be advised that the stewards, at their sole discretion, will investigate any activity during the competition that they consider falls into this category. The stewards have supreme and sole authority to decide what penalty to enforce.”

While not a regulation change, the bulletin clarifies that the stewards will act on anything they feel brings the sport into disrepute, including checking into a control early or late - and even slowing down in the stages to ensure a better position on the road for the following day’s sport.

Citroen’s team principal Olivier Quesnel said he had already reached an agreement with Ford: “We will not check in in advance at the start of the day. We have an agreement with Ford about this. I don’t like the tactics, so I hope this will stop them.”

Ford of Europe senior manager, motorsport, Gerard Quinn said: “The FIA has reminded people that there are regulations there to prevent the sport being brought into disrepute. It’s important to Ford that those regulations are there and that we don’t have any part of that.”