Toby Price has announced he will be stepping away from off-road desert racing for the time being amid accusations of sabotage and unsportsmanlike behaviour.
The Australian star took to Instagram on Tuesday to announce his decision after he and his co-driver Brent Bauman were disqualified from the San Felipe 250.
Price admitted that the past “couple of days have been the toughest” of his career, having been accused of placing rocks on parts of the course in Mexico.
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A video of Price on the course circulated online, prompting accusations that he was caught in the act of what ultimately saw he and Team Australia disqualified from the race.
Price said the footage does not prove any truth to the allegations.
“The video that is circulating does not provide evidence of me placing any rocks, the witness statement does not provide evidence of me making any rock placement and the conversations at the site where the video was taken were not with me except for me telling a girl I was OK when asked and that I was clearing a new line,” he wrote.
Toby Price is seen on the course, allegedly placing rocks. Â Instagram
“That being said the CRB has made its decision and I am obviously treating this as final and respect the process that they went through to get to it.
“I have the highest respect for SCORE International and for the people of the Baja Peninsula that provide their cooperation to the event. The safety of everyone competing and spectating in all forms of motorsport should be of paramount consideration.
“This is obviously not how I expected the San Felipe 250 to go but it is how it ended up.”
Price believes a “higher standard of proof” should have been used when disqualifying the pair but he has accepted the final decision that was made.
Bauman handed in his resignation in the wake of the accusations on Tuesday.
Price said he will now reassess his position with his team to decide if he will return to competition.
“I will be taking some time off from desert racing and I don’t take this decision lightly given the significant damage,” Price added.
Toby Price of Australia and Team Australia Off-Road. Getty
“I want to thank Paul (Weel – Team Australia’s boss) for the significant investment he and his family have not only put into this team but also into my career. Paul was obviously not in any way involved in this interaction and has no knowledge it was occurring at the time, as he was located hours away and should not be portrayed negatively.
“I am aware of the decision of Brent Bauman the team navigator to resign and respect him for that course of action which goes a long way towards taking some responsibility for the outcome off the back of the CRB’s decision.
“There are times in life when circumstances require significant action and this is one of those circumstances.”