Olivier Quesnel took over responsibility for the Citroen World Rally Team in 2008 and was horrified how much tactics played a part in the sport. But he could see the reality. Play tactics or suffer defeat.

The opportunities of manipulating results is a cagey business, it is important to conceal your true intentions. Maybe even throw in some decoys. When Rautenbach withdrew at the final service in Norway, we all believed it was to prevent him finishing and to allow him to change an engine before the next rally without penalty. His engine was apparently damaged. When Rautenbach withdrew at final service in Sardinia, we were told there was a mysterious electrical fault at service. When Novikov was stopped for eight minutes on the final stage in Greece, we heard there was another electrical fault. Was that true, or a tactic? In both Sardinia and Greece, there was the same beneficiary points-wise, Dani Sordo.

In Poland things went further. Three stages from the finish, Ogier stopped with a stated “loss of engine power”. He retired from the rally. On the same stage Novikov admitted he was told to stop on the stage for two minutes before continuing. And on the next stage Rautenbach was told to stop for about 13 minutes before continuing. As a result of these machinations, Loeb ended up with two Drivers’ championship points instead of none, and Citroen Total gained four extra Makes’ championship points instead of one.

All this is traditional motorsport stuff, but what is worrying is that in the case of Rautenbach and Novikov, these were drivers from another team (Citroen Junior Team) who were ordered to sacrifice their chances to help the Citroen Total team. A senior adviser at the rally said that the problem facing the FIA is difficult. Maybe these tactics are morally or even sportingly wrong - but nothing can be done unless there is evidence of wrong doing from the crew in person, and that won’t happen.

3mmm