WRC
BREAKING: Hyundai retires Fourmaux before Paraguay’s final control
Hyundai Motorsport has retired Adrien Fourmaux from ueno Rally del Paraguay, despite the Frenchman being fourth on the road after the Wolf Power Stage.
The retirement appears linked to Article 17.5.1 of the FIA WRC Sporting Regulations, which governs linked rally pairs and would allow Hyundai to change sealed transmission components on Fourmaux’s car ahead of Rally Chile Bio Bío.
Paraguay and Chile are classified as linked events, meaning transmission components such as the gearbox and differentials must remain sealed across both rallies. Teams can only replace these components if the car retires from the first rally of the link or receives written approval from the FIA Technical Delegate. Breaking the seals without approval would trigger a five-minute penalty at the following rally.
Fourmaux led during Paraguay’s opening day before punctures on consecutive stages handed the rally lead to Kalle Rovanperä. He ran second for most of the weekend before dropping to fourth on Sunday's Wolf Power Stage when rain affected the later runners.
The retirement costs Fourmaux his fourth-place finish and championship points and promotes the remaining classified finishers by one position each.
Updated Classification:
Pos.
Driver
Co-Driver
Vehicle
Time
Prev.
1st
1
Sébastien OGIER
Vincent LANDAIS
GR Yaris Rally1
03:00:06.6
2
Elfyn EVANS
Scott MARTIN
GR Yaris Rally1
03:00:32.8
+ 26.2
+ 26.2
3
Thierry NEUVILLE
Martijn WYDAEGHE
i20 N Rally1
03:00:33.8
+ 01.0
+ 27.2
4
Ott TÄNAK
Martin JÄRVEOJA
i20 N Rally1
03:00:37.2
+ 03.4
+ 30.6
5
Kalle ROVANPERÄ
Jonne HALTTUNEN
GR Yaris Rally1
03:02:11.8
+ 01:34.6
+ 02:05.2
6
Sami PAJARI
Marko SALMINEN
GR Yaris Rally1
03:03:42.1
+ 01:30.3
+ 03:35.5
7
Oliver SOLBERG
Elliott EDMONDSON
GR Yaris
03:07:00.4
+ 03:18.3
+ 06:53.8
8
Yohan ROSSEL
Arnaud DUNAND
C3
03:07:22.9
+ 22.5
+ 07:16.3
9
Nikolay GRYAZIN
Konstantin ALEKSANDROV
Fabia RS
03:08:54.8
+ 01:31.9
+ 08:48.2
10
Fabrizio ZALDIVAR
Marcelo DER OHANNESIAN
Fabia RS
03:09:23.6
+ 28.8
+ 09:17.0
