Speed traps threaten Rally GB ......
Discussion
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/world_rally/3426227.stm
Speed traps threaten Rally GB
Wales could lose the British round of the World Rally Championship because of the "intimidatory" tactics of the local police force. "I have been told the police were making the competitors feel unwelcome," FIA president Max Mosley said.
"It's as though the police in Wales did not want the rally to be there."
Former world champions Colin McRae and Richard Burns were two of several rally drivers fined and given penalty points after a crackdown on speeding in 2002.
As well as competitors using public roads to take their vehicles from stage to stage, many spectators were targeted by police using mobile speed traps.
However, speeding incidents were down on last November's event where, though the special stages take place largely on forestry roads, competitors have to travel on public roads between them.
"The world council is going to have to be sure that it is a proper place to have a rally," added Mosley.
"There are government guidelines in the UK about where you put speed cameras. There are different criteria for mobile and fixed cameras.
It might be held in another part of the UK where the attitude of the local police is different
FIA president Max Mosley
"They can only go where there have been a certain number of fatalities or serious accidents in the previous two or three years.
"But if there were a sufficient number of fatalities to justify the number of cameras that were (at the Wales Rally GB), then those roads must have been extraordinarily dangerous."
The Wales Rally GB, which has a sponsorship deal with the Welsh Development Agency until 2007, has only been given a provisional date in September on this year's calendar.
There had previously been concerns over spectator safety after several were injured in 2001, but those were addressed and the Rally GB looked set to stay in Wales.
But now it seems that south Wales could lose the prestigious and lucrative event because of this latest worry, with Chester, Harrogate and Cheltenham all possible beneficiaries as alternative venues.
The Motor Sports Association, the governing body in Britain, has to report to the FIA's world council in March on traffic management for this year's event.
"It would be a matter for the MSA, but one can imagine it might be held in another part of the UK where the attitude of the local police is different," Mosley said.
"I have said we are available to speak to anybody down there, including the police.
"But I must say what I have heard during the days I have been here is very disquieting."
Responding to comments made by Mr Moseley about the future of the Wales Rally GB, a rally spokeswoman said they were still confident that the event would go ahead.
Speed traps threaten Rally GB
Wales could lose the British round of the World Rally Championship because of the "intimidatory" tactics of the local police force. "I have been told the police were making the competitors feel unwelcome," FIA president Max Mosley said.
"It's as though the police in Wales did not want the rally to be there."
Former world champions Colin McRae and Richard Burns were two of several rally drivers fined and given penalty points after a crackdown on speeding in 2002.
As well as competitors using public roads to take their vehicles from stage to stage, many spectators were targeted by police using mobile speed traps.
However, speeding incidents were down on last November's event where, though the special stages take place largely on forestry roads, competitors have to travel on public roads between them.
"The world council is going to have to be sure that it is a proper place to have a rally," added Mosley.
"There are government guidelines in the UK about where you put speed cameras. There are different criteria for mobile and fixed cameras.
It might be held in another part of the UK where the attitude of the local police is different
FIA president Max Mosley
"They can only go where there have been a certain number of fatalities or serious accidents in the previous two or three years.
"But if there were a sufficient number of fatalities to justify the number of cameras that were (at the Wales Rally GB), then those roads must have been extraordinarily dangerous."
The Wales Rally GB, which has a sponsorship deal with the Welsh Development Agency until 2007, has only been given a provisional date in September on this year's calendar.
There had previously been concerns over spectator safety after several were injured in 2001, but those were addressed and the Rally GB looked set to stay in Wales.
But now it seems that south Wales could lose the prestigious and lucrative event because of this latest worry, with Chester, Harrogate and Cheltenham all possible beneficiaries as alternative venues.
The Motor Sports Association, the governing body in Britain, has to report to the FIA's world council in March on traffic management for this year's event.
"It would be a matter for the MSA, but one can imagine it might be held in another part of the UK where the attitude of the local police is different," Mosley said.
"I have said we are available to speak to anybody down there, including the police.
"But I must say what I have heard during the days I have been here is very disquieting."
Responding to comments made by Mr Moseley about the future of the Wales Rally GB, a rally spokeswoman said they were still confident that the event would go ahead.
good. while the gb rally is (was!) a brilliant event, wales deserve to lose it after the attitude they had to the drivers last year. my girlfriend actually asked me if i wanted to go see the rallying in wales (i know - picked a winner havent i? 
)but my answer was no - i love the scenery and mellowed environment there, but after stuff like this i simply refuse to cross the border. no, of course i dont go there with the intention of hooning around, but i find the actions of the councils so disappointing i simply will not contribute to thier economy in any way. some might say im cutting off my nose to spite my face, but there are enough sights and sounds on the rest of this island to explore without heading into brunstromia.
)but my answer was no - i love the scenery and mellowed environment there, but after stuff like this i simply refuse to cross the border. no, of course i dont go there with the intention of hooning around, but i find the actions of the councils so disappointing i simply will not contribute to thier economy in any way. some might say im cutting off my nose to spite my face, but there are enough sights and sounds on the rest of this island to explore without heading into brunstromia.The Wiz said:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/world_rally/3426227.stm
Speed traps threaten Rally GB
[............]
"They can only go where there have been a certain number of fatalities or serious accidents in the previous two or three years.
"But if there were a sufficient number of fatalities to justify the number of cameras that were (at the Wales Rally GB), then those roads must have been extraordinarily dangerous."
Nah! More like extraordinarily lucrative!
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