World Rally Championship (WRC) drivers are boycotting end-of-stage interviews at the Safari Rally in protest against the FIA's recent crackdown on “inappropriate language,” following a fine imposed on a driver at Rally Sweden.
During Wednesday’s shakedown in Naivasha, drivers either remained silent or responded only in their native languages when asked to comment. This silent protest is expected to continue throughout the rally, which concludes on Sunday.
Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux and Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta were among those who refrained from speaking to reporters at the end of their first shakedown run.
The protest follows the FIA’s decision to fine Fourmaux Ksh. 1.4 million (€10,000) and impose a suspended Ksh. 2.8 million (€20,000) fine for swearing in a television interview at the conclusion of Rally Sweden last month. He was penalized under Article 12.2.1.l of the 2025 FIA International Sporting Code after saying, “we f*ed up yesterday” while discussing a rough start to Stage 11.
In response to the sanctions, WRC drivers and co-drivers have united to form the World Rally Drivers Alliance (WoRDA), modeled after Formula 1’s Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA). The alliance released a strong statement opposing the FIA's language restrictions.
“We have asked the president of the FIA for some positive changes in the rules to help us achieve this goal. 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,” the statement read.
“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. In the own interest of our sport, such an action is unfortunately needed, and we apologize to all the rally fans, even though we know they support us in this.”
The WRC Safari Rally officially begins on Thursday, with tensions between the FIA and drivers still unresolved.