Rally drivers stung by cameras
Discussion
just saw this on BBC web site
Rally drivers stung by cameras
Colin McRae and Richard Burns are among the drivers
Some of the world's top rally drivers were caught by speed cameras around the site of the British leg of the world championship, a court has been told.
Port Talbot Magistrates Court was told on Tuesday that among 20 names compiled by South Wales Police were Britain's Colin McRae and Richard Burns.
It is alleged the men were driving in their high-powered cars between stages where they starred in front of thousands of spectators in the 2002 rally in the forests and hills of Wales.
They were among 138 drivers who took part in the British leg of the World Rally Championship which was based in Cardiff.
Reigning world champion at the time, Richard Burns was accused of breaking the speed limit five times - going over 30mph, 40mph, 50mph, 60mph and 70mph.
The others were accused of breaking the 30mph speed limit as they drove to the next stage of the rally on November 14 last year.
Drivers included in the group of 20 are:
Former world champion Scot Colin McRae, 34, living in Switzerland.
Four times world champion Finnish Tommi Makinen, 39, living in Monaco.
Spaniard Carlos Sainz, 42, of Madrid, who is twice world champion.
German Armin Schwarz, 40, based in Monte Carlo, a former European champion.
Estonian Markko Martin, 26, living in Tartu, Estonia, who finished second in last year's GB rally.
Only Schwarz pleaded guilty to speeding - admitting five charges of breaking the limit, all at 30mph along country roads.
Solicitor Paul Trotman, representing the other 19 rally drivers, said most intended to plead guilty.
Schwarz's lawyer Glenda Owen said he faced disqualification from driving on the points "totting up" procedure.
"Disqualification would lead to exceptional hardship for himself and the Hyundai team he drives for," she told the court.
Their cases have been adjourned until 10 November.
Prosecutions have also started against scores of spectators who were following the rally which was run over various stages between Cardiff and Swansea.
A spokesman for the organisers said later that they will be taking steps to ensure that the drivers are aware of the speed limits during this year's rally.
Rally drivers stung by cameras
Colin McRae and Richard Burns are among the drivers
Some of the world's top rally drivers were caught by speed cameras around the site of the British leg of the world championship, a court has been told.
Port Talbot Magistrates Court was told on Tuesday that among 20 names compiled by South Wales Police were Britain's Colin McRae and Richard Burns.
It is alleged the men were driving in their high-powered cars between stages where they starred in front of thousands of spectators in the 2002 rally in the forests and hills of Wales.
They were among 138 drivers who took part in the British leg of the World Rally Championship which was based in Cardiff.
Reigning world champion at the time, Richard Burns was accused of breaking the speed limit five times - going over 30mph, 40mph, 50mph, 60mph and 70mph.
The others were accused of breaking the 30mph speed limit as they drove to the next stage of the rally on November 14 last year.
Drivers included in the group of 20 are:
Former world champion Scot Colin McRae, 34, living in Switzerland.
Four times world champion Finnish Tommi Makinen, 39, living in Monaco.
Spaniard Carlos Sainz, 42, of Madrid, who is twice world champion.
German Armin Schwarz, 40, based in Monte Carlo, a former European champion.
Estonian Markko Martin, 26, living in Tartu, Estonia, who finished second in last year's GB rally.
Only Schwarz pleaded guilty to speeding - admitting five charges of breaking the limit, all at 30mph along country roads.
Solicitor Paul Trotman, representing the other 19 rally drivers, said most intended to plead guilty.
Schwarz's lawyer Glenda Owen said he faced disqualification from driving on the points "totting up" procedure.
"Disqualification would lead to exceptional hardship for himself and the Hyundai team he drives for," she told the court.
Their cases have been adjourned until 10 November.
Prosecutions have also started against scores of spectators who were following the rally which was run over various stages between Cardiff and Swansea.
A spokesman for the organisers said later that they will be taking steps to ensure that the drivers are aware of the speed limits during this year's rally.
Welcome to wales...home of the sheepshagging fool named brunstrom.......
Common sense dosent exist in this country anymore. Its all "cameras cut crashes" or "arrive alive" or "speed kills"....FCUK YOU you pathetic pricks.
These guys could show "advanced police drivers" a thing or 10 about car control....now whos the "safest"?????? WAKE UP!!!
Common sense dosent exist in this country anymore. Its all "cameras cut crashes" or "arrive alive" or "speed kills"....FCUK YOU you pathetic pricks.
These guys could show "advanced police drivers" a thing or 10 about car control....now whos the "safest"?????? WAKE UP!!!
I suppose like the rest of us the Police know that these rally types are not really very safe drivers, considering they are normally the only ones on the rally stage at any one time and there is no traffic coming in the opposite direction, why do they keep falling off the road? because they are driving too fast! simple really. 
That McRae bloke is one of the worst offenders, so we should not be surprised that the BiB decided to keep us ordinary road users safe from these rally maniacs especially on normal roads WITH TRAFFIC
Are they exempt from the normal road traffic laws or do they think they are above the law.
SERVES 'EM RIGHT!!
That McRae bloke is one of the worst offenders, so we should not be surprised that the BiB decided to keep us ordinary road users safe from these rally maniacs especially on normal roads WITH TRAFFIC
Are they exempt from the normal road traffic laws or do they think they are above the law.
SERVES 'EM RIGHT!! yellabelly said:
I suppose like the rest of us the Police know that these rally types are not really very safe drivers, considering they are normally the only ones on the rally stage at any one time and there is no traffic coming in the opposite direction, why do they keep falling off the road? because they are driving too fast! simple really.
That McRae bloke is one of the worst offenders, so we should not be surprised that the BiB decided to keep us ordinary road users safe from these rally maniacs especially on normal roads WITH TRAFFIC
Are they exempt from the normal road traffic laws or do they think they are above the law.
yep, i completely agree, they think just beacause they are WRC drivers they can break the speed limit and get away with it.
Pesty said:
I'm trying to find out how they where caught!
I cant belive Richard burns would get done by a gatso 5 times in one day!
Quote from one of todays papers:
'no fewer than 20 - including someo of the biggest names in the sport - were snapped by roadside cameras.
Freddy Loix faces the most charges - seven
from them same day. While Carlos Sainz yesterday admitted five charges of speeding when he appread before Port Talbot magistrates. His lawyer said that he faced a ban on the points system' WTF !! These are some of the best drivers in the world going about their job and it's not as if the local community doesn't benfit financially is it !!!
When driving between stages aren't they supposed to obide by the laws of the road? If so, then they were speeding. Many of these guys drive on British roads in their private time and know the rules/score/situation with speed cameras. If the road was closed and designated part of a rally stage then I'm sure the cases would be thrown out of court, but if not then they broke the law like everyone else who gets caught by a camera.
I do agree however that a craftily placed Tallivan between stages is a bit unfair.
T/.
I do agree however that a craftily placed Tallivan between stages is a bit unfair.
T/.
Solution for the future is simple.
Do not hold any rally stages in Wales EVER!
The Police in South Wales, in my experience, have got nicking drivers down to a fine art. Obviously the don't go after people without a licence or insurance, because that costs money causes alot of paperwork and some of those bugg3rs don't turn up to court.
Also they wouldn't dream of going after someone who had nicked a car even if they knew where they lived or even if they were doing donuts outside the police station.
Not that I am bitter about the 5pts and £140 fine I got for accelerating to 70 at the end of some roadworks in Gwent (admitedly just before the NSL sign)... *B4stards* and that was nearly 10 years ago. I haven't forgotten
Do not hold any rally stages in Wales EVER!
The Police in South Wales, in my experience, have got nicking drivers down to a fine art. Obviously the don't go after people without a licence or insurance, because that costs money causes alot of paperwork and some of those bugg3rs don't turn up to court.
Also they wouldn't dream of going after someone who had nicked a car even if they knew where they lived or even if they were doing donuts outside the police station.
Not that I am bitter about the 5pts and £140 fine I got for accelerating to 70 at the end of some roadworks in Gwent (admitedly just before the NSL sign)... *B4stards* and that was nearly 10 years ago. I haven't forgotten
Pesty said:
I'm trying to find out how they where caught!
I cant belive Richard burns would get done by a gatso 5 times in one day!
do you recon some bright spark dleiberately decided to hide a van in between stages knowing that they would be likely to speed?
Thats how i understood it when i heard it on the radio this morning, the tw*ats planted the camara's.
"sorry Miss jone's we know you've been burgled but we have some world champion rally drivers to nick"
d3ano said:
I might be wrong in saying this but were they competing at the time of being snapped?
IF they were, isn't the whole point or a rally is to get from A-B in the quickest time? Quickest time being the "Fastest"...
AFAIK when driving between special stages you are expected to abide by the laws of the road and you are not being timed. Only your times during the special stages where the roads are closed to the public count towards your position in the rally. No one is suggesting that they were caught speeding whilst on a special stage. Otherwise they'd be going a darn sight faster than 30 mph, or 70 mph for that matter.
Edited to add: Still, this looks like a bit of oppertunism (sp?) on the part of the numpty speed facists. Load of bo**cks.
>> Edited by t1grm on Wednesday 30th July 08:52
Mon Ami Mate said:
Hopefully the FIA will tell Wales to shove their rally.
Quite. My next post was going to ask what the situation is with foreign license holders being the subject of a totting up ban in the UK. If it means they can still drive in other countries but not in the UK then I hope at worst these drivers boycott this years rally and at best the FIA drop it from the calendar and use the slot to hold a rally elsewhere. Ireland perhaps. Would serve them right. To**ers.
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