Rally drivers just won a major victory with the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) by striking a compromise on interview procedures. That this deal was struck ahead of an expected new round in the Canary Islands is telling. It is supposed to address drivers’ concerns over the excessively punitive nature of interview swearing fines. Julien Ingrassia, a retired eight-time world champion co-driver and representative of the World Rally Drivers Association (WoRDA), confirmed that a solution had been reached.
Ingrassia noted that most of his fellow rally drivers did not have the ability to be full-time professionals. Unlike their Formula One counterparts, they usually do it with shoestring budgets. The drivers claimed that the newly instituted penalties for cursing were disproportionate to their median earnings. This viewpoint has created a call to change the FIA’s competitive regulations. These changes will help account for the special situation of arcade-style rallying better.
New Interview Zones Established
As part of the new agreement, rally events will now feature two distinct interview zones: a controlled zone and an uncontrolled zone. Ingrassia elaborated on this change, stating,
“The rally will now be divided into two zones: one is a controlled zone, one is an uncontrolled zone.”
These zones not only seek to instill greater respect and focus in drivers with fear of punishment, but fear of engaging with the media. The fenced-off areas will feature media zones and post-race FIA press conferences. This configuration will allow stricter entrance interviews and assist in curtailing the adoption of counterculture language.
Context of Recent Discussions
It took last month’s Kenya Safari Rally to fuel a strong Driver’s Force movement. Many drivers continued to opt out of mandatory stage-end interviews, either because they didn’t speak English or because they had no English. This cost-effective policy loophole became their default mitigation strategy to avoid future penalties. The FIA deserves credit for understanding that its policies must change. It’s learning from other motorsport disciplines — most notably Formula One.
Ingrassia said he was pleased with the way these negotiations turned out. He noted,
“We’re really pleased to find a solution. As was the case in Formula One, adjustments were needed to take into consideration some of the unique aspects of our discipline.”
This MOU is an enormous win in helping to create a more equitable space for rally drivers.
Looking Forward
This compromise should help improve that experience both behind the wheel and in the grandstands. In order to create a more respectful environment, the FIA will be introducing new interview protocols. Moreover, these modifications will help drivers to authentically represent themselves. Ingrassia, who competed alongside fellow countryman Sébastien Ogier, can’t wait to see what rallying will become with these new regulations.
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