Are the FIA right to consider downgrading Rally GB?

[SJ Spode]

It's been reported that following the actions of the local Police / Courts in fining / banning rally drivers for speeding convictions at last year's Rally GB, the FIA Rally Commission are considering throwing the rally out of the WRC. http://www.worldrallynews.com/cgi-bi...9227845,49060,

Should the FIA be placing themselves and the crews as been above the law, or do they have a point?

[garcon]

It's not really about being 'above the law' - the crews are obliged to stick to the rules of the road, as they and the FIA know.

It's the whole attitude of the SW Police and authorities that I object to. I don't honestly think they WANT the Rally GB. So yes, let them get their wish, and hopefully in a year or two we can resurrect the Rally GB with full WRC status somewhere that deserves it.

[TuscanR]

I would like to add my thoughts if I may. Although not the most knowledgeable rally fan on the planet I do enjoy watching these guys fly through the forrests etc at breakneck speed. I think that some, well most of the blame has to be squarely laid at the door of the organisers and local government. These people know that the Rally GB will take place in certain areas at a certain time of the year, year in year out ( it annoys me that they dont move the rally around the UK to start with ) surely these two bodies can work together and close some sections of these public roads maybe only for a certain period of time so the police don't have to waste there time catching speeding rally drivers, at the end of the day it has been widley reported in the national press that the welsh police are having a massive crackdown on speeding at the moment. Maybe for the good of British rallying its about time the rally moved elsewhere and another organiser take over, as it seems the current organiser is getting greedy ( ticket prices, limited access) and complacent. Once again it seems that it's British beurocracy thats screwing things up for the fans, nothing like this would happen in France for example!
Thanks for letting me rant.

Get well soon Richard Burns!

[SuperDavros]

It's not so much the FIA putting themselves "above the law", I think the FIA statement read along the lines that...

If the Police and the Courts are handing out penalties to 17 drivers and 2000+ spectators, the surrounding roads to Rally Wales must be very, very dangerous.

Because of the FIA's involvement in saftey issues for motorists everywhere, their objective is to make sure ALL road users are as safe as possible.

The narrow minded, short sightedness of the Welsh Police and Authorities in the area will cost Wales around GB15 million in lost revenue, because they have proved how dangerous the roads are in that area....... Brilliant.


Get well soon Richard Burns

[PaulSands]

Local police making hay...be interesting to see how often through the rest of the year the camera vans were in those locations.
It's this sort of action that loses so much goodwill from the public.