A Messy Startline Issue Dents Fourmaux’s Rally Sweden Hopes
Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux found himself in a bizarre and frustrating situation at the start of stage 11 of Rally Sweden, which significantly impacted his chances of victory. Fourmaux, who had been in the thick of an intense five-way battle for the top spot, started the day in fourth place, just 7.9 seconds behind the leader, Elfyn Evans of Toyota. However, his hopes took a major hit when he began the stage without his helmet properly fastened, leading to a series of unfortunate events that cost him valuable time.
The Unusual Circumstances of Stage 11
The stage began in unusual and chaotic circumstances. Fourmaux realized just six or seven seconds before the start that his helmet strap was not tight. He had to quickly put it on, but the problems didn’t end there. His co-driver, Alex Coria, informed him that they only had 20 seconds to reach the start line. This led to a rushed and messy start, with Fourmaux not having his belts or gloves on. Despite the marshals being present to check the drivers’ readiness, they did not notice or alert Fourmaux to his unsecured helmet and other safety issues. This oversight, combined with the driver’s own responsibility, resulted in a significant time loss of 23.6 seconds.
The Aftermath and Frustration
The consequences of this mishap were immediate and severe. Fourmaux dropped from fourth to sixth place, now 31.4 seconds behind the leader, Evans. The frustration was palpable, as Fourmaux and his team had been fighting for every second in a tightly contested rally. “It is not great. First of all, there is a lot of frustration after that,” Fourmaux said. “Then I had to stop in the stage to tighten the belts and go again. We have been fighting over one or two seconds since yesterday, and we are right there, and then we have this stupid thing. It is really frustrating.”
Seeking Compensation for Safety Stop
Given that Fourmaux stopped during the stage for safety reasons, he is hoping that the officials will intervene and offer him some time back to compensate for the stoppage. “It is a safety reason more than anything else, so I decided to stop to make sure it is safe,” he explained. “Let’s see if we can gain some time back.” Despite the setback, Fourmaux remains optimistic about the rest of the rally. “We had a really great feeling with the car this morning, the pace was correct. Apart from the issue at the startline, all of the rest was going well. It is really tricky when you lose 20 seconds when you are fighting with 10 seconds between five drivers yesterday. It is not easy to catch up, but let’s see.”
Hyundai’s Eventful Morning
The morning proved to be eventful for the Hyundai World Rally Team as a whole. World champion Thierry Neuville moved from fifth to third following Fourmaux’s issue and a suspected mechanical problem for team-mate Ott Tänak. Tänak ended the morning loop with steam and moisture coming from the bonnet of his i20 N Rally1 car, dropping from third to fourth overall, 12.7 seconds behind the leader, Evans. “This morning chassis-wise I had a bit better feeling and the balance had improved a bit. It was a bit more playful in the car, but on the second stage, we started to lose out a bit, and it was the same on the third one,” Tänak said. “As you can see, some liquid is coming out of the car, and why and where I don’t know, so we need to see. I know the engine is running, so we have to trust our people.”
Trust and Determination in the Face of Adversity
Despite the challenges, Tänak remains confident in the team’s ability to diagnose and resolve the issue. “I believe everything is possible at the moment. Let’s see what’s happening, and we go from there,” he added. The team’s resilience and determination are evident, as they continue to push forward despite the setbacks. For Fourmaux, the focus is now on regaining lost ground and ensuring that the rest of the rally goes smoothly. “We will see what we can do after that,” he said, highlighting the team’s commitment to making the most of the remaining stages.
A Rally of High Stakes and Unexpected Twists
Rally Sweden has been a rally of high stakes and unexpected twists, with the top five drivers separated by mere seconds. The intense competition and the unpredictable nature of the event have made every second count. For Fourmaux and the Hyundai team, the morning’s events serve as a reminder of the importance of meticulous preparation and the potential for even the smallest oversight to have significant consequences. As the rally continues, the team will need to stay focused and adapt quickly to any new challenges that arise.
