FIA looks to clamp down on pace during rallies

Hayden Paddon
Hayden Paddon in action at the Rally of Sweden (Getty image)

Kiwi driver Hayden Paddon has hit out at the FIA after the motor sport governing body announced that they were considering fresh measures to clamp down on speeds travelled during WRC stages.

The second stage of the Rally of Sweden was called off after Ott Tanak set an average speed of 137.7kph, a speed deemed too fast by the FIA.

It has forced the FIA to consider regulatory changes to ensure average speeds don't top 128.7kph, a move that Paddon took to social media to criticise.

"Just my 2c on this topic. Speed is not a measure of how 'safe' a stage is - and SS12 in Sweden would have almost been same in '16 car," Paddon tweeted.

"From a drivers perspective best is a mix of fast and slow stages – I wouldn't want to see iconic events slowed down. We want to go fast ;)."

Currently, rallies aren't regulated by the FIA with individual rally organisers determining how fast their races are run by including narrow roads, harder turns etc.

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