Rally Japan organisers have been fined €50,000 and issued an additional €100,000 suspended fine after an unauthorised vehicle ventured onto a live stage at the World Rally Championship season finale.
A minivan entered stage 12 (Ena) on Saturday morning, forcing officials to cancel the test after six of the eight Rally1 crews posted times.
Television cameras captured a vehicle that was stationary facing oncoming traffic approaching the start line, where Elfyn Evans’ Toyota GR Yaris was waiting behind a temporary barrier.
According to a report from the event organisers, a civilian car stopped at a checkpoint where five on-site members of staff checked the driver’s pass. The driver failed to show the required pass and subsequently broke through the checkpoint and entered the stage and drove 520 metres in the opposite direction.
The vehicle was asked to move off the course but did not comply and remained in the same place for over 10 minutes. Police then attended the scene and escorted the vehicle from the stage.
The FIA launched an investigation into the incident that was deemed a “failure to take reasonable measures resulting in an unsafe situation”, which has resulted in a hefty fine being levied at the event organisers.
“The organisers shall be jointly and severally viable to pay a fine of €50,000,” read the report.
“An additional fine of €100,000 is imposed on the organisers, which is applied with suspension of sentence subject to the following conditions:
“The organiser must conduct a full marshals’ training with specific modules on road surveillance and communications in co-operation with a dedicated FIA Task Force, the FIA Safety Department and the ASN Japan Automobile Federation before the next WRC Rally Japan in 2025.
“The training results with a comprehensive presentation and report will be sent to the FIA Commissions and Committees above mentioned.
“No further breaches by the organiser of Art 12.2.1.h) of the 2024 FIA International Sporting Code in the next WRC Rally Japan 2025.”
Grégoire Munster, Louis Louka, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Ford Puma Rally1
Photo by: M-Sport
The stewards report confirmed that the van entered the stage at a marshal post that was secured only by tape and marshals and without a physical barrier.
The incident was not immediately communicated to Rally Control by the marshals officiating the stage, with the first communication coming to…
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