FANS BE H IN DOG I ER’ S CAUSE OVER PENALTY

Fans say that french man should get his power stage points back Photos: mcklein-imagedatabase.com, Red Bull Content Pool

A social media poll following Motorsport News’ in-depth analysis of Sebastien Ogier’s Rally Mexico penalty has revealed 67 per cent of people voting felt the Frenchman should have been given his four powerstage points back.

Ogier was given a 10-second penalty after he hit the chicane in the final stage of March’s Leon-based event. It dropped him from second in the stage classification to seventh, denying him four points. MN’S investigation revealed other drivers who had hit the same chicane and were unpunished.

A Twitter poll on @Rallyinguk last week asked the question: ‘Do you think the FIA decision to strip Sebastien Ogier of his powerstage points on Rally Mexico was wrong?’

Of 687 votes, 67 per cent said it was the wrong decision, 26 per cent said it was the right decision and seven per cent said they didn’t know.

MN understands the FIA is working on a rapid rule change for the use of chicanes. One source said: “I don’t think we will have anything for [the next round in Sardinia], but I don’t think we will need it there. But for the next rallies, there should be something coming. It’s possible to place a judge of fact at the chicanes and they can decide, if the car hits the chicane it’s a five-second penalty or something. We need the rule change and it’s coming – but don’t forget all of this was quite soon. The appeal decision was made just days before Rally of Portugal and then everybody was talking about this problem when we came to Porto.”

FIA rally director Yves Matton declined to comment on the specifics of the poll, but on the potential for rule change added: “Anything which could affect the championship is always studied by the Rally Department and the WRC Commission, if necessary. Any decisions taken will be within the framework of the FIA’S regulatory power and in the interests of all the stakeholders.”