WRC: Tänak dealt suspended ban for driving on wheel rim

Hyundai World Rally Championship driver Ott Tänak has received a one-round suspension for driving from the end of SS10 Saint-Clément – Freissinières to the Monte Carlo Rally service in Gap with only three freely rotating wheels.

Tänak, his co-driver, Martin Järveoja, and Hyundai team manager Alain Penasse were summoned to the stewards on Sunday after the conclusion of the rally, which was won by Citroën’s Sebastian Ogier.

The Hyundai pairing retired from the rally due to the incident caused by back-to-back punctures on SS9 and SS10, with the team only carrying one spare in the car, as per the regulations.

After the stewards hearing, it was revealed that Tänak and Järveoja had been handed a suspended one-event ban from the 2021 World Rally Championship.

Therefore, if Tänak is found guilty for a similar offence in the next 12 months, he will be banned from the competition for one round of the championship.

Tänak was in breach of Article 34.1.5 of the WRC sporting regulations, which states:

“On a road section that is a public road and at the start of a stage, a competition car may only be driven on four freely rotating wheels and tires.

“Any car not complying with this article will be considered as retired as per WRC Art.54. An additional penalty may be imposed by the stewards.”

Tänak was not the only driver to have penalised during the weekend.

Rally-winner Ogier and Hyundai Motorsport co-drivers Martijn Wydaeghe and Carlos del Barrio were all handed €400 fines for completing SS10 of the rally due to the strap on their helmets not being fastened properly.