WRC » Loeb handed time penalty

Watch the footage on Eurosport before you comment. Elena was sitting in the seat with his seatbelts undone and BEHIND his back (showing that he didn't just undo them, he had been moving around in the seat, probably reaching back to get the gun and jack). The car powerslides out onto tarmac (not exactly walking-pace we're talking about here) while Elena is sitting with the jack and wheelgun in his hands. He even opens the door and leans out before Seb stops the car.

I'd say they were damn lucky that they weren't excluded from the rally. This was a major breach of the regulations that clearly states that seatbelts should be buckled and tightened whenever the car is not stationary.

The point is.. Loeb finished 14 sec ahead of Petter. That was so close, that the few seconds they gained from Elena's seatbelts had a big impact. If it wasn't for that they would be in really close battle with Petter, and would have needed to push even harder. That could have resulted in a small spin that put them behind Petter. This is in my opinion why the penalty was correct.

It seems the 'even-handedness' of the Mosely led FIA strikes again.....like in F-1 I say it's time to dump Mosely , Bernie, the FIA and the FOM like the cheap suits they are. They have brought nothing to motorsport other than a layer of self serving egotistical gnomes who have successfully driven the cost( $$$$ ) of participation, viewing , and attendance up beyond justifyable measure. And all the while they are lining thier own pockets, and egos.