Ott Tänak has received a 10-second time penalty at WRC’s Rally Estonia for not driving in full electric mode inside a defined HEV Zone.
Since the introduction of hybrid Rally1-cars at the start of the 2022 WRC season, HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) Zones were introduced where all Rally1 competitors are obliged to drive their cars in full electric mode (i.e. not using the combustion engine).
Tänak didn’t engage the HEV mode at the start of of the HEV Zone. The Stewards elaborate that “as indicated in Bulletin 1 point 2 (amendments to the Road Book Part 1 page 56 box 18) and in the Road Book Part 1, page 57 box 19, the HEV zone is clearly defined,” and therefore concluded that Tänak was in breach of the regulations.
It was confirmed by hybrid unit supplier Compact Dynamics that there were no issues with the hybrid unit. Further, Hyundai also didn’t report any technical problems on Tänak’s car.
The Stewards handed Tänak a 10-second time penalty which drops the Estonian to P3 in the overall standings, 22.5s behind rally leader Elfyn Evans and 3.8s behind championship leader Kalle Rovanperä.
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Photo: Hyundai Motorsport
