SuperGLS
10-14-2004, 09:42 PM
Hyundai Motor Company received a hefty $ 1 million (US) penalty for failing to complete the entire 2003 World Rally Championship.
The Korean team was struggling with disappointing results and decided to pull out of the championship after the 2003 Rally Australia to concentrate on the preparation of a more competitive car for 2006.
The FIA reacted with the above mentioned fine, worried for the image of the sport if teams develop the bad habit of leaving in the middle of the season.
The FIA made the following statement about the situation:
The Hyundai Motor Company appeared before the [World Motor Sport Council] meeting to explain their absence from four events in the 2003 World Rally Championship and their failure to pay the required financial penalty per event missed.
Further to the presentation, the World Council unanimously confirmed the imposition of a $1 million (US) penalty on the Hyundai Motor Company with a deadline for payment of December 1, 2004.
This ruling - widely expected from the FIA - will not please Hyundai and will dissuade the other constructors taking part to a full WRC programme to adopt a similar approach as the Korean manufacturer. Unfortunately it is too late for Mitsubishi to go back on their decision...
http://rally.racing-live.com/en/index.html?http://rally.racing-live.com/en/headlines/news/detail/041014014921.shtml
--That sucks. Too bad really. Oh wells, hopefully they'll actually be competitive when they return.
The Korean team was struggling with disappointing results and decided to pull out of the championship after the 2003 Rally Australia to concentrate on the preparation of a more competitive car for 2006.
The FIA reacted with the above mentioned fine, worried for the image of the sport if teams develop the bad habit of leaving in the middle of the season.
The FIA made the following statement about the situation:
The Hyundai Motor Company appeared before the [World Motor Sport Council] meeting to explain their absence from four events in the 2003 World Rally Championship and their failure to pay the required financial penalty per event missed.
Further to the presentation, the World Council unanimously confirmed the imposition of a $1 million (US) penalty on the Hyundai Motor Company with a deadline for payment of December 1, 2004.
This ruling - widely expected from the FIA - will not please Hyundai and will dissuade the other constructors taking part to a full WRC programme to adopt a similar approach as the Korean manufacturer. Unfortunately it is too late for Mitsubishi to go back on their decision...
http://rally.racing-live.com/en/index.html?http://rally.racing-live.com/en/headlines/news/detail/041014014921.shtml
--That sucks. Too bad really. Oh wells, hopefully they'll actually be competitive when they return.