World Rally Championship drivers Elfyn Evans and Kris Meeke have urged the FIA to speed up the delivery of technology warning slower cars that a rival is trying to pass.
Slowed by his own suspension problems, Meeke unwittingly held up Evans – who was fighting for the Tour of Corsica lead – on Friday’s final stage.
Evans was eventually given the time back by the clerk of the course but, with the required hardware in the car, both crews have questioned why they were in the position in the first place.
The system would allow a car that is closing in on a slower rival to alert the crew ahead to their presence, potentially preventing an incident such as Evans and Meeke’s occurring.
“It’s there, so let’s have it [working],” said Meeke. “It would make the whole thing so much more straightforward.”
Evans added: “It would definitely make a difference to be using the system.
“I haven’t tried it and don’t know too much about how it works, but, in principle, it makes a lot of sense.
“This kind of thing can happen in rallies. I know Kris well and there’s no way he knew we were there.”
FIA rally director Yves Matton told Autosport that the so-called ‘push-to-pass’ system, not to be confused with IndyCar’s version, was on the governing body’s to-do list for this season.
Matton said: “This is on the action list plan, but it’s not just to use the technology – we have to make a regulation for this as well.
“It will be done I hope for next year if we can find a common agreement on how to use it.
“Sporting regulations cannot be changed during the year, except for main safety issues and this will not be ready early enough.”
M-Sport man to take FIA role
Andrew Wheatley will take on the role of WRC category manager, helping to shape the future of the WRC.
A former national-level competitor, Wheatley will leave his job as M-Sport’s business development manager to work out of the FIA’s Geneva office.
FIA rally director Yves Matton would not confirm the identity of his latest recruit but admitted the job would be taken up in May.
While working as the category manager, Wheatley will also fulfil the role of FIA sporting delegate jointly with two-time world champion co-driver Timo Rautiainen.
Wheatley has significant experience at all levels of the sport as a competitor and in helping to mastermind M-Sport’s title success and in the sport’s development of a one-make-based Junior World Rally Championship.