Hyundai accepts blame for tyre error
Hyundai Motorsport say a communications error was to blame for a tyre blunder that robbed Dani Sordo of his podium finish at Rally Guanajuato Mexico.
Sordo [above] completed Sunday's final stage in third place, but was later penalised when it was discovered that he had used 29 tyres during the event instead of the 28 permitted in the regulations.
Late that night stewards imposed a two-minute penalty on Sordo and he lost third position to M-Sport World Rally Team’s Mads Østberg.
The team did not challenge the decision, which cost it a run of three consecutive podiums this year.
Team manager Alain Penasse said: "Due to an obvious communication error, three new tyres and two used ones – instead of three used and two new – were fitted at the Tyre Fitting Zone after SS20 on Sunday morning. This means one tyre in excess was used compared to the number allowed by the regulations.
"We will now go back to Alzenau and investigate the issue further. For sure, this doesn’t take away the performance of both the crew and the team throughout this challenging rally.”
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