Eight WRC Drivers Caught by Police During Rally Finland

Rally Finland 2025 has a story that goes beyond the stages. Eight WRC drivers were caught by local police for traffic violations during the event, including prominent names from the Rally1 category.

According to Finnish newspaper Keskisuomalainen, those involved were Adrien Fourmaux, Arthur Pelamourgues, Pablo Sarrazin, Martins Sesks, Josh McErlean, Robert Virves, Ugur Soylu, and Calle Carlberg. Of these, Fourmaux, Sesks, and McErlean competed in the Rally1 category in Central Finland. The Hyundai driver eventually finished fourth overall.

The most serious incident involved Sarrazin, who competed in Rally2. He is suspected of aggravated endangerment of road safety. Reports say the French driver overtook several vehicles in a no-overtaking zone on Highway 9 on Saturday. His reckless move continued when he overtook a police patrol near the centre of Korpilahti, triggering an immediate chase. Sarrazin failed to stop despite police signals, only pulling over after officers drew alongside in the overtaking lane. He has been issued a temporary driving ban, with the length and number of day-fines to be determined by a district court.

Baca Juga8 Pebalap WRC Terjaring Razia Polisi di Reli Finlandia

Meanwhile, most other drivers were guilty of speeding, some by a considerable margin. Soylu and Carlberg, for example, were clocked at 100 km/h in a 50 km/h zone in the built-up area of Koskenpaa. Fourmaux was recorded at 84 km/h at the same location. Despite the excess, most received €200 fines. The largest fine, €510, went to Soylu.

Police explained that for foreign residents, day-fines are based on monthly net income, but Finnish authorities cannot verify tax records of foreign drivers, so the minimum speeding fine of €200 applies. Six of the eight drivers have been issued temporary driving bans following the event. Sesks and McErlean are believed to be the only ones who avoided bans after being recorded at “just” 86 km/h in a 60 km/h zone. Both received 14 day-fines, while others were handed between 20 and 30 day-fines.

This incident serves as a reminder that WRC drivers, despite their speed on the stages, must respect traffic laws on public roads. Similar incidents have happened in the past, but the number this time is notable and has caught the attention of the Finnish public, known for strict traffic discipline.