Scandalous penalty in the FIA World Endurance Championship! The sports commissioners have imposed a fine of 10,000 euros on Toyota. The reason sounds almost unbelievable to outsiders: Team director Rob Leupen had publicly commented on the balance of performance in the WEC to a journalist in the run-up to the 6-hour race in Sao Paulo.
In doing so, the experienced Belgian effectively defied the requirements of the sporting regulations, which actually state: No WEC participant may comment on the Balance of Performance or attempt to influence the classification through public statements.
FIA muzzle in the WEC regulations
This highly debatable paragraph – in the motorsport scene there is talk of an ‘FIA muzzle’ – has been anchored in the rule book since 2023. Motorsport-Magazin.com weiss: Not everyone at the FIA is enthusiastic about this rule either. No wonder: This is a regulatory intervention in freedom of expression – and in terms of the balance of performance, which is known to have a major influence on sporting competition in today’s motorsport.
BoP statements a “serious breach of regulations”
These three statements in the original interview are the ones that matter: According to Leupen, the BoP will be published one week before the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2023 “not in accordance with the regulations” In the current 2024 season, the FIA procedure regarding the Balance of Performance “not transparent”. And: “Honesty is required in the future.”
The stewards assessed these statements as a “serious breach of the regulations” but suspended the imposed fine until the end of the season, provided that no persons associated with Toyota commit similar offences. They added the ‘friendly’ note: “All competitors are advised that future violations may not be punished with a suspended fine.”
Muzzle rule has been sharply criticized for some time – Absurd BoP egg dance
According to the stewards, Leupen’s statements “call into question the impartiality of the FIA, raise suspicions about its integrity and thus cause moral damage, especially since the press article in question was circulated in several countries. In addition, these comments have the direct consequence of raising doubts about the integrity of the championship’s sporting results and damaging its credibility”.
The endurance racing scene has long been strongly criticizing the World Automobile Federation’s rule-gating policy. However, no specific punishment had been imposed before Leupen’s case. Knowing about the rule paragraph, the WEC always leads to an absurd balancing act when journalists ask team representatives or drivers about their opinion on the balance of performance. “I’m not allowed to talk about it,” is what they say again and again, or “I’ll tell you, but don’t quote me.”
BoP statements not prohibited in other racing series
In other BoP racing series such as the DTM, the GT World Challenge, the IMSA or the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring, it is not forbidden by the regulations to make public statements about the BoP. The topic is nevertheless sensitive and many protagonists prefer to keep quiet for fear of potentially being disadvantaged in the next classification. Other representatives deliberately go public in the hope of provoking a balance of performance that is more advantageous for them.
In the WEC, those in charge are usually creative in their choice of words for fear of punishment – as in Leupen’s case – in order to indirectly talk about the influence of the balance of performance on the competition. They then talk about “pace compared to the competition for various reasons”. Of course, everyone knows immediately what is meant.
When Akio Toyoda caused great BoP laughter
Toyota has already attracted attention once before in relation to the FIA muzzle issue: in 2023 on the sidelines of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, after the Japanese had to load a full 37 kilograms, the most additional weight, as a result of a BoP adjustment just ten days before the race. Akio Toyoda himself made a pointed dig at the important ACO press conference in Le Mans, much to the amusement of those present, with just two words: “Less BoP.”
Later in a fan magazine published by Toyota Mr. Toyoda was more explicit, saying among other things: “When I saw the qualifying, I thought: I have lost to politics.” The then Toyota CEO and current chairman of the automobile giant did not receive a publicly visible penalty for violating the regulations. Behind the scenes, however, the FIA and the Le Mans organizer ACO are said to have not been all that enthusiastic…
Muzzle rule in the WEC regulations: Scandalous paragraph in full
Article 6.2.1: Manufacturers, participants, drivers and any person or entity associated with their entries must not attempt to influence the setting of the BoP or comment on the results, in particular through public statements, the media and social networks. Any violation of the above principles will be penalized by the Stewards, at any time during a competition, including after the race.