The unhappy World Rally Car driver, Martin Prokop, his lingering emotions further disillusioned by the problems with the organisers at the recent Rally Argentina, has announced he is to make one final appearance in the WRC.
Prokop was penalised five minutes before the start of the event after the transmission seals on the Jipocar Czech National Team's Ford Fiesta RS WRC were broken, contravening championship regulations.
He has stated: “Like every other rally, Sardinia cost us a huge amount of energy, time and money. We did the whole race with extreme self-denial and feelings of injustice, the feeling of disappointment of senseless punishment was really strong.
“But rallying is still my whole life, and despite the fact that now we will prepare everything for (the 2017) Dakar, rallying is still the number one discipline. I am a rally driver with my body and soul.
“When I start my really last WRC race, I will do it with style and ‘in tuxedo’, with head up and happy, not angry. Yes, I will get back to WRC, this is what I can promise to myself, my team and especially fans. Maybe it will be even this year, who knows.
“The car and everything around is ready, prepared and rehearsed. Now on principle we will continue to fight with FIA for the withdrawal of the five-minute penalty, which we believe is unauthorised and injustice against us. I would like to thank all the fans who have cheered us on in the WRC and who still support us.”
Even now the detailed implications of the arrival of the 2017 formula World Rally Cars leaves unanswered the implications for the private teams who will still run current formula World Rally Cars.
- Martin Holmes
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