Wilson’s FIA Calling and Swearing Sanctions Agreement Impacts WRC. 3 Top Drivers Speak Out Against It

It’s been quite the week for the FIA ​​and the World Rally Championship and one that could have a lasting impact on both.

First, a resolution was reached between motorsport’s global governing body and the World Rally Drivers Alliance [Worda] that resulted in the return of end-of-stage interviews after the Kenyan safari silence, now drivers no longer fear penalties for swearing in the heat of the moment scenarios.

This was quickly followed by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem nominating one of the WRC’s most prominent figures in M-Sport-Ford team founder Malcolm Wilson as the candidate to succeed Robert Reid as vice-president of the sport.

Reid, WRC stalwart and co-driver of the 2001 world champion, announced his resignation from the role earlier this month, citing a “breakdown of standards” within the organization.

These two developments come at a critical time for the WRC. The championship is trying to reinvent itself and attract new manufacturers to bolster entries with its highly anticipated 2027 regulations, announced last December. All of this is happening while the WRC promoter is up for sale and there is uncertainty over Hyundai’s participation beyond 2025.

However, the news of an agreement between Worda and the FIA ​​regarding the application of sanctions for competitors using “inappropriate language” was received as a positive step by drivers, who believe that this opening of communication channels with the FIA ​​can lead to further progress.

“It’s very positive, a few steps from the FIA ​​to find a solution,” Hyundai’s Ott Tanak told Autosport. “We can have a little confidence and hopefully, for the first step, it’s good enough and we can maybe improve further in the future. There are many things we want to go through, but for now it’s a very good step.”

“That’s what we really need, and we need communication between all parties. At the end of the day, it’s our sport, it’s not just the FIA, we make the sport, and there are many other people here who give their lives for us. It’s something we all want to do better and we hope to improve.”

Drivers have been seeking improvements regarding promotion and clarity on the championship’s future path for some time now. Ben Sulayem reiterated his desire to “fix” the WRC by the 2025 Monte Carlo opener in January and remains confident the process is well underway.

The news that Wilson could take the FIA’s deputy position, subject to a vote at the Extraordinary General Meetings and the conference in Macau in June, has also been welcomed by WRC drivers, who believe his influence could help improve the series.

M-Sport founder and former British rally champion Wilson is highly regarded by those at the WRC Service Park and has previously worked with Ben Sulayem, who competed in M-Sport-built machines during his own rallying career.

“I don’t think you’ll find anyone with the level of experience that Malcolm clearly has as a driver and team owner and in the business and commercial side.

“I think it’s clear, in fact, that there will be difficult decisions and immediate decisions that have to be made. I would say they would be right up Malcolm’s street to be fair, and I think that would be one of his strengths.”

Tanak, another former M-Sport driver, added: “I think we know that rallying is in a difficult place with all the stories about things that are going on.

“Certainly a light at the end of the tunnel would help that in the technical side and the promotional side. There are a lot of things we should have improved a long time ago. I guess someone as direct and as strong as him [Malcolm] could maybe help that. But I don’t know if that’s going to happen.”

Wilson admitted he was “very surprised” by the appointment and while he is aware that the role is focused on all aspects of motorsport, he harbors a passion for helping to improve rallying. It was this passion that drove him to accept the appointment despite the FIA ​​having endured a turbulent period.

“I’m honored to be nominated and it’s not something I ever expected,” Wilson told Autosport.

“I’ve worked with Mohammed a lot and I know he wants to see the rally a success, and there’s nothing more I want because this has been my life, and if I can find a way to help, that would be great.

“It [the role of the FIA] is a very difficult job, there is no doubt, but as I said, [motor sport] has been my life and I have so much passion for this great sport, and I want to see it back to where it was.

“If you look at the hardcore fans, they’re still there and that still gives me encouragement, but we have to take the next step and somehow get