The vibrant atmosphere of the Safari Rally Kenya has been tempered by a simmering tension between World Rally Championship (WRC) drivers and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) over the governing body’s recent clampdown on driver language.
In a coordinated act of protest, drivers have opted to either remain silent or communicate only in their native tongues during stage-end television interviews at the iconic event.
The drivers’ actions are a direct response to the FIA’s decision to fine Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux €10,000, with an additional €20,000 suspended, for swearing during a television interview at Rally Sweden last month.
Fourmaux’s comment, “we f—ed up yesterday,” regarding a messy start to a stage, was deemed a breach of Article 12.2.1.l of the 2025 FIA International Sporting Code, which prohibits the use of “inappropriate language.”
This incident, the first of its kind under the FIA’s stricter enforcement, has ignited a firestorm of discontent amongst the WRC driver community. Following the sanction, drivers formed the World Rally Drivers Alliance (WoRDA) to voice their concerns and seek dialogue with the FIA.
The protest began after Wednesday’s shakedown in Kenya, with drivers refusing to comment or explaining their silence in their mother tongues. Reigning world champion Thierry Neuville, speaking in French, explained the collective decision.
“I believe you already know there will be little to no communication from us this weekend and everyone will do it in their own language,” he stated. “We are sorry there has been no more communication between the FIA and us [drivers]. We are not the kind of people that insult or offend others. We feel sorry for the fans but we have taken this decision together.”
WoRDA released a statement today further elaborating on their stance. While acknowledging the need to minimize rudeness, the alliance emphasized the importance of maintaining freedom of expression and the raw emotions inherent in the sport.
They argued that drivers should not fear punishment for minor, unintentional language lapses.
“We all agree to keep rudeness at the microphone to a minimum. At the same time, it is necessary to maintain a certain freedom of expression and to keep emotions alive while drivers don’t need to be afraid of getting punished in any way,” the statement read.
WoRDA revealed that they had requested FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem to consider positive changes to the rules to address their concerns.
However, with no response or dialogue initiated by the FIA, the drivers felt compelled to take more drastic action.
“For the reasons explained in our statement, it is impossible for us to guarantee that we (Drivers and Co-drivers) will be able to follow these rules perfectly and systematically,” WoRDA stated. “This is why we – WoRDA Members – are now taking the responsible decision to remain silent at the end of the interviews or to answer in our mother tongue.”
The drivers apologized to the rally fans, acknowledging that their action was necessary in the interest of the sport and expressing hope that the fans would understand and support their position.
The FIA has yet to officially comment on the drivers’ protest or the ongoing dispute. The situation adds an unexpected layer of complexity to the Safari Rally Kenya, a challenging and iconic event on the WRC calendar.
It remains to be seen how the FIA will respond to this unified action from the drivers and whether a resolution can be found to ensure both respectful conduct and the passionate expression that is part of the sport’s appeal.
