Hyundai to get fined 1 Million dollars by FIA
 

Aparently if you sign up for the World Rally Championship, but don't show up to a rally, there is a $250,000 fine per rally missed. :eek: :eek: :eek:

from [url]http://www.worldrallynews.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?newsid1073424225,49682,[/url]

[quote][b]The FIA is preparing to fine Hyundai US$1,000,000 for failing to contest the last four rounds of the 2003 World Rally Championship.

The Korean manufacturer withdrew from the series following a dispute with its British rally team Motor Sport Developments, which now seems likely to involve legal action. However, the championship regulations do not permit registered manufacturers to miss rallies, on pain of a penalty of $250,000 per rally.

The FIA regards the fine as an “administrative matter” that need not involve a World Council hearing. It comfortably exceeds previous penalties levied on Toyota for illegal servicing and Ford for a homologation rumpus.
[/b][/quote]

wow, looks like they're pretty determined to put hyundai out of the WRC for good. thats one hell of a fine.

heh, good luck to the fia in collecting on that one. "What are you gonna do, not let us rally?"

Well, they do want to come back in 2006...

back in '06? i'll believe it when i see a new car and a drive lineup.

2006 is their long term goal. They are working on a new car right now and they plan to come back for a half season in 2006, and a full attack in 2007 (as well as a Dakar campaign in 2006)

[img]http://www.wrc.com/NR/rdonlyres/404AA87D-4914-4F82-B7FA-B22C7D4F9941/27965/hyundaidrawinggallery.jpg[/img]

damn...that's hardcore...Hyundai won't pay it....

Looks like Hyundai doesn't want to pay...

[url]http://www.worldrallynews.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?newsid1073462566,32484,[/url]

[quote][b]
Hyundai believes that it should escape a US$1,000,000 fine for missing rounds of the 2003 World Rally Championship, on the basis that it intends to return in 2006.

Hyundai’s World Championship campaign collapsed along with its relationship with its British rally team Motor Sport Developments late last year. As a result, the works Accents missed the last four rounds of the season, triggering an FIA fine of $250,000 per rally. The Korean maker announced before the end of the season that it would return with a new team, based in Russelsheim in Germany, in 2006.

No registered manufacturer has previously missed rounds of the World Rally Championship. Participation in all events is a condition of registration.

“That is the regulation, but I think that is a little bit different from comparable conditions. They [Hyundai] decided to have company-wide preparation for rally department. Temporarily we have stopped so we have more scope for joining the WRC,” a Hyundai spokesman commented.

He added that Hyundai planned to contest the Dakar Rally in 2006 as well.[/b]
[/quote]

lets hope that somehow their approach to competition changes between now and '06 and they come up with the $$$ to test and race properly. if they don't, their Dakar campaign will be a bloody mess.

from what I understand, they couldn't even PAY THEIR TEAM in the UK, so how are they going to pay the fine? :confused:

Not quite true. They *could* pay MSD (their team in Brittian) but MSD was holding important records that Hyundai was entitled to see. These records are rumored to hold some shady money investment schemes on MSDs part, but MSD still refused to release the documents, even after Hyundai cut off monetary support.

The issue between MSD and Hyundai is going to be settled in court sometime soon (hopefully).

Hyundai has the money to pay the fine, they just don't feel like it.

Wow. Who knew about the serious drama behind the scenes? I'm such a local yokel. :p
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