Reported
FIA investigates WRC2 windscreen incident in Greece
An investigation has been launched by the FIA and Acropolis Rally Greece organisers into a WRC2 windscreen shattering incident.
The FIA and Acropolis Rally Greece organisers have initiated an investigation into an incident during Stage 7 where a rock shattered the windscreen of Alejandro Cachon's WRC2 car, though no evidence of foul play has been found yet. This development occurred during the EKO Acropolis Rally, where Cachon, driving a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, was contending for a podium position in the WRC2 category. The incident, which took place on the Thiva stage, saw a rock strike the co-driver’s side of his vehicle, causing significant damage. Despite the impact, Cachon managed to complete the stage, even recording the fastest WRC2 time, and finished Friday in third place, 31.4 seconds behind Andreas Mikkelsen, the WRC2 leader, according to Autosport.
Incident Details
During Special Stage 7, the final test of Friday's action, a rock unexpectedly hit Car #24's windscreen. This impact occurred on a straight section of the gravel stage. Alejandro Cachon initially expressed concern on social media and in a stage-end interview that the rock might have been intentionally thrown, considering its trajectory during a straight section of the stage. He highlighted the significant effort from his team and co-driver, Borja Rozada, and expressed hope that the incident was not deliberate, if indeed it was not accidental, according to Autosport.
Official Response and Review
Responding to the severity of the situation, the FIA and the Acropolis Rally Greece organisers promptly launched an investigation to ascertain the precise cause. A statement from the FIA confirmed the incident, stating, "During Special Stage 7 (Thiva) of the EKO Acropolis Rally, Car #24 sustained a shattered windscreen after being hit by a rock along the stage route." They further added that "The FIA and the event organiser are currently investigating the cause of the incident." Following a thorough review of available footage related to the incident, the FIA issued an additional statement, indicating that no evidence has been identified to suggest a spectator threw the rock. The investigation is ongoing, and any further information or footage will be considered. The FIA and organisers maintain their commitment to treating competitor safety incidents with utmost seriousness.
Competitor Safety Concerns
The focus on competitor safety remains paramount for both the FIA and event organisers. Such incidents, even if accidental, underscore the inherent risks in rallying and necessitate comprehensive investigations to implement preventive measures. While the current WRC season has seen Elfyn Evans lead the standings with 201 points, followed by Finnish driver Teemu Suninen's replacement Jari-Matti Latvala's protogé Sami Pajari on 171 points, ensuring safety across all categories, including WRC2, is critical for the integrity and future of the sport. The incident with Cachon's car, despite its fortunate outcome of no serious injury, highlights areas that require continuous vigilance to protect drivers and co-drivers in high-speed, challenging environments.
Status And Sources
This story is labelled Reported, which means a newsroom we cite carries this but the people involved have not confirmed it. The rules behind those labels are in the editorial policy, and the desk that published it is Sanni Koskela.
Written from the following reporting. Each link goes to the newsroom's own page, not to an aggregator:
- Autosportautosport.com
