2008 Neste Oil Rally Finland - official thread

[Daniel]

After the last stages of today Loeb was heading back to Jyväskylä, apparently he missed a junction and drove slightly into a ditch. Spectators went and helped him out of there - and now they are deciding if everything went by the rules there. Cause if things haven´t change that much, the drivers are still not allowed to be helped by spectators in any way outside the stages. But I doubt anything happens..

I doubt anything will/should happen.

[jonkka]

Tommi was excluded from Safari 1999 for similar incident.

[Daniel]

Tommi was excluded from Safari 1999 for similar incident.

That was with regards to changing a tyre though and was that not in a stage?

[ste898]

I doubt anything will/should happen.

Its Loeb so nothing will happen!!!

[MJW]

I doubt MSport will appeal as after the road positioning a few events ago there might be a little too much "sour grapes" if Ford deny Loeb's win in Finland. Having said that, it is no different to what happened toPetter in Mexico 2004 or 05 when his car was pushed into service, he got 5 mins penalty then. If the spectators hadnt helped Loeb maybe he would have been late / damaged transmiision or something. From the photos it is plainly obvious that Loeb got outside assistance and according to the rulebook this is subject to a penalty.

[bluuford]

Here you can find small video and picture about Loeb´s accident: http://ralliradio.yle.fi/node?page=5
And MJW: MSport does not need to appeal. If someone sends e-mail to organizers or organizer can find this picture or video on their own then they can held stewards meeting and decide what to do. It appears that Loeb was actually stuck on the drainage collector:-) If stewards can find this video or get any information then I cannot find any possibility that Loeb can escape from the penalty:-( Because stewards must act according to the rules. The right way for Loeb would have been going out from the car and tell to the spectators that they are not allowed to help them and they can handle it on their own. I think he knows that but probably he forgot it after such a long day and maybe because he was bit nervous because of what happened to him. Hopefully no one tells anything to the stewards :-) Dont want that rally to end this way:-)

[ste898]

Nice video that!!!

I do hope that the orgisers act to the full and dont wimp out otherwise the RALLY IS A FARCE!!

[Isthmus]

Nice video that!!!

I do hope that the orgisers act to the full and dont wimp out otherwise the RALLY IS A FARCE!!

What ? Seb won and dominates on the stages and then, with the car OK and working/pushing, just because 3 or 4 persons pushes it 2/3meters(and by the video it looks like the car would get out nicely), it is a farce ??

mokin:

[cut the b.s.]

Nice video that!!!

I do hope that the orgisers act to the full and dont wimp out otherwise the RALLY IS A FARCE!!

Surely even you would not like to see a rally won or lost in this way?

A crazy situation for Loeb to find himself in though, was it Richard Burns who retired on the Safari in 02 within sight of the service park but was bogged down and noone could help them?

[N.O.T]

fastest lawnmover in the rally...

i think there are definately faster Lawnmowers than this one....