Wales Rally GB Could Lose World Championship Status

19 November 2003

Motorsport's ruling body, the FIA has threatened to downgrade the status of the Rally of Great Britain to "observer status". This follows a string of top drivers receiving fines for speeding on the public roads between stages, and would mean that the rally, currently the final round in the World Rally Championship, would carry no points.

17 drivers were punished for speeding offences during the 2002 event including four former World Champions - Colin McRae, Richard Burns, Carlos Saintz and Tommi Makinen. Most of the drivers were caught by a speed trap set up between the rally headquarters and a shakedown section used for setting up and calibrating the cars. Defending the drivers, Paul Trotman told the court that, "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".

Despite this, the Neath magistrates chairman, Cliff Jones sais that "The area were these offences happened is particularly dangerous for people to exceed the speed limit under any circumstances." and a number of fines and bans were handed out to the rally stars. Colin McRae was caught at 51mph in a 30mph zone and given a £150 fine and three points on his licence. Freddy Loix fared worse having been clocked at 54mph - one of seven times he was caught on the same stretch. He was fined £1,750 and banned from driving for six months. Armin Schwartz also received a six month ban and a £1,000 fine for five couts of speeding and further suspensions were handed out to Sweden's Daniel Carlsson and Kris Meeke from Cumbria. Richard Burns was caught at 83mph on a 70mph dual carriageway and given a £150 fine and three points.

A total of 2,312 speeding offences were detected during the rally with a number of fans following the rally between stages among the offenders.

Rally GB is due to move from its season-ending November slot to September next year, but the status of the rally currently rests with the FIA's world motorsport council. A spokesman for the FIA explained, "The actions of police and the 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."

A decision to downgrade the status of the Wales Rally GB would be a huge blow to motorsport in this country, meaning a reluctance for the top drivers to compete with no incentive of championship points. The rally is Britains largest spectator event, in previous guises attracting over 2 million spectators over the four days of competition stages. Reborn as the Wales Rally GB to provide improved TV coverage and spectator access, the event is often the decider for the championship title and a huge attraction for fans.

To lose this prestige event and the associated tourism revenue, on the basis of the heavy-handed police action, would be a disaster for the area and Britain as a whole. The Welsh Development Agency, who sponsor the event, estimate a loss of £15 million ot the South Wales economy if the rally were to be scrapped.

A statement from the rally organisers, Rally GB Limited, said that they had not been given any notification of this threat of action, but said it accepted the FIA's concerns regarding the policing of the speed limits on Welsh roads. It also stated that it would be working closely with the FIA safety delegate during the planning for the 2004 event to ensure all of these concerns were addressed. The World Motorsport council will meet on 12 December in Monaco to reach a decision.

See series calendar for World Rally Championship 2003

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