Estonian rally driver Robert Virves has been banned from driving in Finland
Estonian rally driver Robert Virves has been banned from driving after violating traffic rules during the Rally Finland. During police checks at the event, which took place from July 30 to August 2, law enforcement officers identified violations by eight WRC participants, ERR News reports, citing the Finnish publication Keskisuomalainen.
Virves, who won the WRC2 class behind the wheel of a Škoda, was among the drivers stopped by police. Violations were also recorded for French M-Sport Ford driver Adrien Fourmaux, Irishman Josh McErlin, Latvian Mārtiņš Sesks, Frenchmen Arthur Pelamurg and Pablo Sarrazin, Turkish driver Ugur Soylu, and Swede Kalle Karlberg.
Seven drivers, including Virves, violated the rules by speeding. In some cases, the violations were significant: Fourmaux, who finished fourth in the rally, was clocked at 84 km/h in a 50 km/h zone. Only Sesks and McErlin avoided driving bans.
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The most serious violation is believed to be that of Pablo Sarrazin, who competed in WRC2. According to ERR News, he is suspected of creating a serious danger to traffic after passing another vehicle in a no-passing zone near Korpilahti. He allegedly overtook a police patrol and failed to respond to initial signals to stop; a temporary driving ban was imposed on him.
Fines for participants ranged from 200 to 510 euros. The amount of daily fines in Finland depends on net monthly income; however, the police were unable to verify the tax records of some of the foreign drivers.
