Citroen have dropped their appeal to uphold Sebastien Loeb's controversial Monte Carlo rally win thereby handing a record victory to Finn Tommi Makinen, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) confirmed today.
But FIA President Max Mosley said the wrangle over the two-minute time penalty given to Frenchman Loeb after an illegal tyre change would prompt a re-assessment of rallying rules.
Citroen said today they still believed the 27-year-old's win should stand but have dropped the appeal in the interests of "good relations" with their rivals.
"Although we have always accepted the team made a mistake, we maintain the penalty on this young driver is harsh and unfair," a Citroen spokesman said.
The decision makes Subaru's 37-year-old Makinen the most successful world rally driver ever with 24 career wins.
FIA's Mosley said in a statement that the World Motor Sport Council would examine the rules at a meeting on March 20th to make sure the same thing did not happen again.