Spare batteries (ab)used by Volkswagen?

Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT submitted a formal protest against the entire Volkswagen Motorsport team, or rather, three cars driven by Sebastien Ogier, rally winner Jari-Matti Latvala and Andreas Mikkelsen. Based on the current regulations, protest was rejected “as it is against more than one competitor and therefore cannot be accepted according to Art. 176 of the International Sporting Code”.

Citroën has a right to appeal, and for now, according to the second stewards notification, cars by both teams are being held in parc ferme.

At first, rumours suggested Citroën was protesting Volkswagen’s new and still quite unreliable handbrake system, but it emerged that the protest actually suggests Volkswagen did something that includes spare batteries, and it happened on Friday.

We await more information… Is Duracellgate upon us? Hopefully not, rules are here to obey, however, and last thing WRC needs is drama at the stewards office. Although, Formula 1 seems to be doing just fine with a bit of those.

Latest info, Jost Capito, Sven Smeets and FX Demaison are summoned to stewards office.