Tanak Gets Penalty for Infringing WRC Rules

On his route to the event’s first control, the Hyundai driver Tanak was discovered to have violated the new World Rally Championship sports standards for 2022. Crews must only operate in electric mode in designated HEV (hybrid electric vehicle) zones that have been implemented at rallies this season as a result of the introduction of new hybrid Rally1 vehicles this year. Tanak received a 10s penalty after it was discovered that he was using his i20 N’s internal combustion engine while in an HEV zone on the route to the first stage.

The Estonian driver Tanak is now third behind Evans’ teammate Kalle Rovanpera after falling from being 12.5 seconds behind Toyota rally leader Elfyn Evans. Tanak is currently 22.5 seconds behind schedule as of Friday afternoon’s stages.

Tanak said in the media area that he had been driving “quite on the edge” before the fine was imposed in order to keep up with the Toyotas driven by Evans and Rovanpera.

M-Sport’s Craig Breen received the same fine shortly after the penalty was confirmed. The 10s will be added to the Irishman’s time when he resumes racing on Saturday because he has already retired from the day’s competition.