Yohan Rossel has been formally declared the winner of WRC2 at Rally Chile after stewards rejected a protest from Oliver Solberg.
WRC2 title contender Solberg lodged a protest asking the stewards to re-evaluate a notional time awarded to Rossel that helped the Citroen driver to victory on Sunday.
Rossel vaulted from third to WRC2 class lead when stewards deemed Solberg had hindered the Frenchman throughout stage 11 and subsequently knocked 40s off his stage time.
Solberg was main the category within the check when he suffered a puncture which value the Swede 1m30s to vary a wheel. Solberg rejoined the stage forward of Rossel who felt he had been held up by the Skoda driver whereas passing by way of stage affected by thick fog.
The incident is more likely to play a component in figuring out the end result WR2 title as Solberg might have secured the championship with a victory in Chile. Solberg ultimately completed fourth at school, 26.1s behind Rossel after successful all 4 of Sunday’s phases.
Solberg felt he didn’t maintain up his title rival and talking earlier than the stewards listening to he mentioned: “I’ve seen his [Rossel’s onboard] video and I’ve seen my very own video and I didn’t hinder him in any method and in addition there a lot fog and it was raining that there was no mud both so I don’t actually know why he complained.”
Oliver Solberg, Elliott Edmondson, Toksport WRT Skoda Fabia Evo Rally2
Picture by: McKlein / Motorsport Pictures
Nonetheless, stewards deemed Solberg’s protest inadmissible “as a result of below the FIA Worldwide Sporting Code, it isn’t permissible for the Stewards to evaluate/re-hear their choices by way of a protest.”
“The Protest, as clarified and confirmed by the Protester within the listening to, seeks to reopen a Stewards’ resolution, to current additional proof by the Protester after which name for the Stewards to make a brand new resolution about the identical subject material. Underneath the FIA Worldwide Sporting Code, it isn’t permissible for the Stewards to evaluate/re-hear their choices by way of a protest,” learn the stewards report.
“Furthermore, the Protester has given discover of an intention to attraction in opposition to Stewards Determination No. 5. As such that call is now topic to a evaluate and dedication by a better court docket (specifically the Worldwide Court docket of Enchantment) and thus the topic (i.e. issues referring to Stewards Determination No. 5) now not fall throughout the remit of this present panel’s judicial jurisdiction.
“The Stewards conclude that the protest is inadmissible and certain the wrong judicial course of that the Competitor ought to undertake.”
Solberg leaves Chile with a 12-point lead over Rossel within the WRC2 standings however will now need to depend on outcomes elsewhere to maintain his title hopes alive having accomplished his seven points-scoring occasions.
Rossel and Sami Pajari (15 factors adrift of Solberg) stay in title rivalry with the pair set to finish their remaining rounds on the Central European Rally and Rally Japan respectively.
“We’ll by no means surrender. It is extremely bitter in the intervening time I’m bit emotional now as a result of I needed to win it and now it’s tough. It has been such good yr and it’s all I ever dreamed about,” mentioned an emotional Solberg after finishing the rally.
“It isn’t over however right away now it’s bit laborious as a result of the dream was to win it this weekend and it regarded excellent and it felt excellent.
“The plan was to drive gradual Friday and Saturday to only be there for Sunday as a result of I knew Sunday can be no downside. It was the plan and it nearly labored.”
