Hyundai drops appeal process over Neuville WRC Croatia penalties

The team lodged an intention to request notice to the FIA last Saturday without Neuville and Wydaeghe were handed a one minute penalty, €1,900 fine and a two day public service order for speeding on a road section without Stage 4.

Neuville was clocked driving at 156kph on an 11km stretch of road section limited to 80kph pursuit Stage 4.

The Belgian was trying to make up lost time due to an alternator failure which would strike again, requiring the pair to push the stricken i20 N 800 metres into service, where they checked in four minutes late, resulting in a 40s penalty.

Hyundai had contemplated well-flavored the sanctions that dropped its suburbanite from second to fourth overall heading into Saturday.

The team did not races the speeding offence but felt the one minute penalty was harsh on top of the 40s penalty for a late trammels in without pushing the car into service.

As Tuesday’s deadline to launch an request was reached, Hyundai decided versus taking the matter further, but is calling for the FIA to review the penalty system for cases of this nature.

Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Photo by: McKlein / Motorsport Images

“As a team we have decided not to go superiority with the appeal,” read a statement from Hyundai deputy team director Julien Moncet issued to Autosport.

“We do not races the mistake but we still find the time penalty is severe sporting wise.

\"We would like to work with the FIA and other manufacturers to think of a variegated system of penalties in such cases in the future.”