Jari-Matti Latvala has warned the FIA to be careful ahead of key changes to the World Rally Championship format for 2015.
Latvala and Volkswagen team-mate, the reigning WRC champ Sebastien Ogier have reportedly written letters to FIA president Jean Todt urging a rethink of rule changes to the running order.
Mooted changes will see the championship leader first on the road on day 2, an extension of the current day 1 starting procedure.
Further changes will see the top three going into a final stage shootout in a rally deciding power stage.
The WRC commission pitched the proposed changes which also include banning in-car split times to the World Motorsport Council of the FIA in August.
There is also a move to ban in-car split times from next year.
Latvala, second in the championship behind Volkswagen team-mate Ogier, said officials need to be wary of any changes.
The WMSC is expected to hand down its decisions on 2015 changes at a meeting in Beijing today.
“My idea was that I was originally hoping at the power stage they would extend more points for the winner and maybe points for the best five,” Latvala told Speedcafe.com
“It can be good. But we need to have rallying for the first two days.
“It’s not going forward, everyone is just waiting and waiting until the last stage and that kills the spirit.
“That’s why the FIA and the promoter’s need to be careful that we don’t end up with a situation coming that the sport is not exciting until the final stage.”
Latvala said not so critical is the move to outlaw in-car split times.
“Forget the split times it is not so critical. I can live without split times,” Latvala said.
“Okay sometimes in the long stages you know which pace you are going at but I don’t think it is a problem.”
Discussion about this post