The entry for Skoda team driver, Jan Kopecky, in Sardinia as a WRC2 competitor created some surprise because he had not entered the previous WRC2 round, in Portugal.
Jan Kopecky in action in this year's Monte Carlo Rally. (Photo: Holmes)The 2017 FIA World Rally Championship Sporting Regulations states that: “8.2.6 - In order to be classified in the final classification at the end of the season, WRC 2 competitors must have taken part in the following three mandatory rallies as a minimum (Portugal, Germany and Wales RGB).
“Except in cases of force majeure, any registered driver or team which does not take part in one of the mandatory rallies listed will be disqualified from the respective Support Championship classification. The points will not be redistributed to those remaining in that Support Championship.”
It was clarified at Rally Portugal that while the three rallies remain mandatory, a competitor will now not be excluded from the Championship if they do not participate in all three.
If a driver does not enter, he will be considered as having entered, the event will be counted as one of the seven events he entered (the best six scores to count), but the driver will score zero points from that event.
The consequence of this rule adjustment is that Kopecky remains as a driver still able to win the WRC2 title.
- Martin Holmes
SUBSCRIBE BELOW TO READ THE FULL STORY
