Ogier served with €2,000 fine for road traffic violation
The Frenchman was handed a €2,000 penalty after he was found to have overtaken a car using the hard shoulder, and failing to stop for a police officer when instructed to do so.
Police dealt with Ogier following the offence, which occurred on Saturday morning, by handing him a fine before the matter was brought to the attention of the rally’s Clerk of the Course.
A hearing took place last night where Ogier, his co-driver Julien Ingrassia and Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Sporting Director Kaj Lindstrom were all present.
During this, Ogier admitted he had overtaken the car in front of him on the right-hand side and “apologised for this lapse”.
He said the error was the result of him not understanding the police officer’s hand signals because “the officer was not in front of the car queue and very often such signs are made to help the rally cars drive through the traffic jam".
Ogier, Ingrassia and Lindstrom were informed that further investigations would be carried out by stewards, with the police officer involved to be approached by them.
At 9.30am this morning, the police’s representative made contact with the ASN Steward to confirm the “queue was the consequence of a road blockage due to a routine control” and that “the driver overtook the car in front of him on the right-hand side when approaching the roundabout”.
Stewards concluded Ogier was in breach of Art. 34.3.1 of the 2021 FIA WRC Sporting Regulations and imposed the €2,000 fine under WRC Art. 34.3.4.
Noting Ogier was penalised for a similar offence at Rally Croatia earlier in the season where he struck another car before leaving the scene, the stewards said: “Having considered the mitigating circumstances surrounding this case, we concur that the above penalty was consistent and appropriate.”
On Rally Finland last month, the eight-time champion was handed an €800 fine and a one-minute time penalty for not having his helmet strap correctly fastened throughout SS12. Due to Ogier being summoned before stewards at Rally Monte Carlo back in January for a similar offence, the original €400 fine was doubled.
