Petter Solberg has been stripped of his third place on Rallye de France and excluded from the results altogether after his CitroënDS3 was found to be under the regulation minimum weight for a World Rally Car.
Event Stewards, including former World Champion co-driver Robert Reid, made the decision this evening after considering a report from the FIA technical delegate following a weight check carried out after the SS23 Haguenau Power Stage.
Petter’s car, run by Citroen’s semi-works PH Sport outfit, was weighed three times and on each occasion registered 1196kg, four kilogrammes under the regulation minimum 1200kg.
Representatives of the Petter Solberg team were given the opportunity to explain the discrepancy but after deliberation the Stewards decided to exclude the car from the results.
The Solberg team has until 1930hrs tonight to appeal the decision.