Quote Originally Posted by Rally Power View Post
The link was already put here, but it could be interesting to reproduce in a clear way the organizers comment on Bertelli's incident:

"Following the statement released by the FUCKMATIÈ World Rally Team regarding Competitor #37 accident at the 2015 Vodafone Rally de Portugal, the organiser clarifies the following:

In relation to the incident involving competitor Lorenzo Bertelli, the organiser of Vodafone Rally de Portugal confirm that a person with medical background was in constant contact with the Event Chief Medical Officer and stayed with the driver at all times after his accident on SS10.

The Rally Chief Medical Officer consulted with the FIA Medical Delegate and at no time was the driver’s condition considered to be serious or urgent. He remained at the hospital for CT scan at 24 hours post-injury (hospital protocol for head trauma) and all the exams revealed no signs of traumatic brain injury.”

The Organising Committee

28 of May of 2015"

Bertelli claims on his press release are contradicted by the organizers, that have enough experience to distinguish a real medical emergency (like the one that involved a heli rescue to Max Rendina, #33 driver) from a minor health problem.

I like Bertelli involvement in WRC and think there shouldn't be any discrimination (positive or negative) because of his economical status, but the way this matter was described by him and his staff gives the idea that there's a little excess of egocentrism in the fuckmatie team...

Above all, this minor incident can't undermine the organizers great job on this year rally, especially attending the high risk option to return at the north region.

Perhaps, instead of dedicate so many posts over this issue it would be nice to see recognize in this forum the passion and the good behaviour of northern portuguese spectators and how vibrating and cheerful the rally turned to be ;-)

Viva Portugal, Viva o Rali!
NOBODY can know via phone, how serious is the injury, especially if it is head injury. In this case we should believe only driver's feelings and medical equipments (scans etc). I am usually on rally controls on events in Czech republic and I have lot of experience with this. If the crew member is feeling bad and there SHOULD be problem with it, we are immediatelly stopping the stage and sending the medical crew there. Because we are talking about health, which should be on first place. And dont forget, stopping the stage doesnt mean cancelling the stage, after some break stage can continue without problems.

I dont have more details about the problem, but what I have read from both statements (crew and organiser), for me this is big mistake from organiser/rally control/rally doctor/media delegate.