WRC bans set to back fire on the Welsh
Discussion
Although the Welsh authorities have adopted this moral high ground with the WRC it could back fire on them.
With their attitude toward competitors and spectators and the very public way in which Gronholm was dealt with - the FIA are to re-consider the suitability of Wales as a WRC venue.
The FIA are quoted as saying - it would appear that Wales is a very dangerous place and as we place saftey at the top of our priorities maybe we shouldn't come here.
So well done Wales - that most wealthy place has shot itself in the foot.
With their attitude toward competitors and spectators and the very public way in which Gronholm was dealt with - the FIA are to re-consider the suitability of Wales as a WRC venue.
The FIA are quoted as saying - it would appear that Wales is a very dangerous place and as we place saftey at the top of our priorities maybe we shouldn't come here.
So well done Wales - that most wealthy place has shot itself in the foot.
It has set a terrible example as it's one thing to place cameras in real accident black spots, like schools etc.
Surely this is tantamount to selective targetting and almost victimisation.
It hardly shows a responsible attitude on the part of the authorities concerned and should backfire on them.
Surely this is tantamount to selective targetting and almost victimisation.
It hardly shows a responsible attitude on the part of the authorities concerned and should backfire on them.
Superb. 
Best news I've had all day.
Anyone know how much of an effect this will have on the welsh economy? The local newspapers must have been reporting/speculating on an announcement such as this.
Wouldn't it be great if the media started reporting in the manner of:
Speed cameras deployed in 2002 bringing in revenue of £120,000 has led to the loss of £70million revenue per year to the welsh economy with the resultant loss to the exchequer of the VAT and other taxes estimated at £23million. If this lost tax revenue were instead spent in the the NHS it would have saved 500 lives.
DAZ
(Hidden Speed Cameras kill hundreds)
>> Edited by dazren on Tuesday 11th November 16:28
Best news I've had all day.
Anyone know how much of an effect this will have on the welsh economy? The local newspapers must have been reporting/speculating on an announcement such as this.
Wouldn't it be great if the media started reporting in the manner of:
Speed cameras deployed in 2002 bringing in revenue of £120,000 has led to the loss of £70million revenue per year to the welsh economy with the resultant loss to the exchequer of the VAT and other taxes estimated at £23million. If this lost tax revenue were instead spent in the the NHS it would have saved 500 lives.
DAZ
(Hidden Speed Cameras kill hundreds)
>> Edited by dazren on Tuesday 11th November 16:28
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3261545.stm
Apparently generates £15m per annum for the local economy!
Apparently generates £15m per annum for the local economy!
Pasted this from Autosports website (www.autosport.com)
FIA to examine suitability of Wales as WRC venue
Governing body commissions report following speeding fines
Carlos Sainz was among the drivers fined for speeding
Motorsport's governing body, the FIA, says that the spate of prosecutions for speeding on Rally GB could force it to re-examine south Wales' suitability as a venue for the event.
Several British daily newspapers have carried sizeable stories this morning, outlining how a host of world rally stars received fines and even driving bans yesterday on the basis of offences committed during last year's running of the event.
But at last weekend's championship showdown, the South Wales police again used a number of mobile speed cameras to catch speeding fans and competitors. Despite the fact that the event is now backed by the Welsh Development Agency, the FIA has indicated that it intends to re-assess whether the region's roads have become too dangerous to host the large amount of traffic and rally machinery over three days.
An FIA spokesman said: "Road safety is a matter of the utmost importance to the FIA. The actions of the police and magistrates seem to indicate that this is an exceptionally dangerous location for a rally. The FIA has therefore asked its safety delegate for a report on the suitability of the local public roads for a World Championship event."
Many WRC insiders now believe that Rally GB is run under the harshest police regime in the entire series – beyond that of Australia, which has traditionally seen the most police activity.
Serves the to$$ers right if they move it somewhere else.
FIA to examine suitability of Wales as WRC venue
Governing body commissions report following speeding fines
Carlos Sainz was among the drivers fined for speeding
Motorsport's governing body, the FIA, says that the spate of prosecutions for speeding on Rally GB could force it to re-examine south Wales' suitability as a venue for the event.
Several British daily newspapers have carried sizeable stories this morning, outlining how a host of world rally stars received fines and even driving bans yesterday on the basis of offences committed during last year's running of the event.
But at last weekend's championship showdown, the South Wales police again used a number of mobile speed cameras to catch speeding fans and competitors. Despite the fact that the event is now backed by the Welsh Development Agency, the FIA has indicated that it intends to re-assess whether the region's roads have become too dangerous to host the large amount of traffic and rally machinery over three days.
An FIA spokesman said: "Road safety is a matter of the utmost importance to the FIA. The actions of the police and magistrates seem to indicate that this is an exceptionally dangerous location for a rally. The FIA has therefore asked its safety delegate for a report on the suitability of the local public roads for a World Championship event."
Many WRC insiders now believe that Rally GB is run under the harshest police regime in the entire series – beyond that of Australia, which has traditionally seen the most police activity.
Serves the to$$ers right if they move it somewhere else.
Just got to post and agree that this is great news... bye bye £15,000,000, hello £120,000.
I guess that the scamera partnership would view this as some sort of victory "We may be £14,880,000 down in the welsh economy, but the roads are now much safer thanks to the eviction of those speed devils"
I guess that the scamera partnership would view this as some sort of victory "We may be £14,880,000 down in the welsh economy, but the roads are now much safer thanks to the eviction of those speed devils"
They'll soon recoup the losses - (they'll reduce their trigger speed - to say 21 in a 30 and hide better) 
There might be a wider "audience" to all this that are at present unsung and unrecorded.
Since my little altercation with "Rowlings Mob" back in April, I have only been into Wales twice. Before the fu
ers tried to get 60 quid out of me, I was going about once a fortnight.
The reduction in income to the Welsh economy in my case (ie. buying fuel, meals etc) has been about £200, Fk all in itself but, if "Rowlings scamera partnership" could inadvertently persuade, say, 1,000 people to take their money elsewhere, that would be £2m vanishing from the Welsh economy in a very short space of time.
Speed kills??? Perhaps, perhaps not, but scamera partenships could certainly kill busineses ...
There's lovely, boyo, isn't it ..... !!!
Since my little altercation with "Rowlings Mob" back in April, I have only been into Wales twice. Before the fu
ers tried to get 60 quid out of me, I was going about once a fortnight. The reduction in income to the Welsh economy in my case (ie. buying fuel, meals etc) has been about £200, F
k all in itself but, if "Rowlings scamera partnership" could inadvertently persuade, say, 1,000 people to take their money elsewhere, that would be £2m vanishing from the Welsh economy in a very short space of time. Speed kills??? Perhaps, perhaps not, but scamera partenships could certainly kill busineses ...
There's lovely, boyo, isn't it ..... !!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3261545.stm
Speed traps threaten rally's future
The future of the Wales Rally GB - which generates £15m for the nation's economy every year - could be in doubt because of South Wales Police's campaign against speeding.
The news comes a day after 17 rally drivers, including Britain's former world champions Colin McRae and Richard Burns, were punished in Neath Magistrates court for speeding during the 2002 event.
Four of them - German Armin Schwarz, Belgian Freddy Loix, Swede Daniel Carlsson and Briton Kris Meeke - were banned from driving
Now FIA, the sport's world governing body, is looking into whether the roads in south Wales can cope with the amount of rally traffic.
A FIA spokesman said: "Road safety is a matter of the utmost importance to the FIA.
"The actions of the police and magistrates seem to indicate this is an exceptionally dangerous location for a rally.
"The FIA has therefore asked its safety delegate for a report on the suitability of the local public roads for a world championship event."
The magistrates court heard on Tuesday that most of the drivers were caught by one trap set up between rally headquarters and a testing area known as the "shakedown section".
Paul Trotman, defending, explained how this six-mile long section was used to calibrate the cars.
"The shakedown section has two miles along a public road and then four miles inside a forest not subject to speed limits.
"But the two miles between there and the base camp is open to the public."
Mr Trotman said: "People are prosecuted for speeding because of the risk to other road-users, but the degree of danger from these men is likely to be far less than with other drivers."
He said the cars were very sophisticated with and the drivers "are used to doing far in excess of these speeds".
"The danger to the general public is extremely minimal," he added.
The roadside cameras picked up a total of 2,312 speeding offences, with a number of fans driving between different stages of the rally among the offenders.
Speed traps threaten rally's future
The future of the Wales Rally GB - which generates £15m for the nation's economy every year - could be in doubt because of South Wales Police's campaign against speeding.
The news comes a day after 17 rally drivers, including Britain's former world champions Colin McRae and Richard Burns, were punished in Neath Magistrates court for speeding during the 2002 event.
Four of them - German Armin Schwarz, Belgian Freddy Loix, Swede Daniel Carlsson and Briton Kris Meeke - were banned from driving
Now FIA, the sport's world governing body, is looking into whether the roads in south Wales can cope with the amount of rally traffic.
A FIA spokesman said: "Road safety is a matter of the utmost importance to the FIA.
"The actions of the police and magistrates seem to indicate this is an exceptionally dangerous location for a rally.
"The FIA has therefore asked its safety delegate for a report on the suitability of the local public roads for a world championship event."
The magistrates court heard on Tuesday that most of the drivers were caught by one trap set up between rally headquarters and a testing area known as the "shakedown section".
Paul Trotman, defending, explained how this six-mile long section was used to calibrate the cars.
"The shakedown section has two miles along a public road and then four miles inside a forest not subject to speed limits.
"But the two miles between there and the base camp is open to the public."
Mr Trotman said: "People are prosecuted for speeding because of the risk to other road-users, but the degree of danger from these men is likely to be far less than with other drivers."
He said the cars were very sophisticated with and the drivers "are used to doing far in excess of these speeds".
"The danger to the general public is extremely minimal," he added.
The roadside cameras picked up a total of 2,312 speeding offences, with a number of fans driving between different stages of the rally among the offenders.
the bit that I don't get is how the public road part of the shakedown section is left open to the public and not closed off.
If it was closed surely this would negate the problem of speeding and allow the rally teams to test without worrying.
Don't know the layout or how it all works but it does seem rather silly or deliberately setup.
If it was closed surely this would negate the problem of speeding and allow the rally teams to test without worrying.
Don't know the layout or how it all works but it does seem rather silly or deliberately setup.
Although i love driving in Wales, most of the people are decent, etc etc, there is definitely a section of petty, small minded losers resident there. The biggest one in the whole of Wales, probably the country, indeed perhaps the whole world, is that bastion of stupidity <AKA> " Thick Dick" Brunstrom.
He's the sort of moronic retard that couldnt see this situation developing, most likely due to his peaked cap slipping over his beady eyes.
I rather fancy that he sat there rubbing his hands with glee as the news broke of his "success" at prosecuting the worlds most skilled drivers, for the worlds pettiest infraction. Well done Mr Broomstone.....
Obviously this kind of persecution, make no mistake, thats what this is, is great news for these slime partnerships, but as has already been mentioned, itll cost them dear long term.
The loss of some £15 million per year to the local economy with its knock on effects will most likely hit these fools where it hurts.
Wales, its got its fair share of assholes.
He's the sort of moronic retard that couldnt see this situation developing, most likely due to his peaked cap slipping over his beady eyes.
I rather fancy that he sat there rubbing his hands with glee as the news broke of his "success" at prosecuting the worlds most skilled drivers, for the worlds pettiest infraction. Well done Mr Broomstone.....
Obviously this kind of persecution, make no mistake, thats what this is, is great news for these slime partnerships, but as has already been mentioned, itll cost them dear long term.
The loss of some £15 million per year to the local economy with its knock on effects will most likely hit these fools where it hurts.
Wales, its got its fair share of assholes.
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