Wales Rally GB 2014

[Alistair Wells]

Hi, I am thinking of going to Wales for the WRC event. After being sad and looking at videos on you tube, I picked out signs located on either side of the road basically saying that you can't stand beyond this point. For those of you who have been, is the viewing limited or are you able to walk the track to fond some spots

Cheers,
Alistair

 

[Daniel White]

There are basic rules to follow and some are a must, these signs your refering to are spectator prohibited areas due to the increased risk of injury and cars going off track. They are there for your safety and marshals can stop a stage if you are deemed to put yourself or anyone else including competitors in danger, ofcourse this is extreme case but the marshals will probably just ask you to move back to a safer place.

Anywhere else is just as equally dangerous as at these events always expect the unexpected. Never stand on the outside of a corner. This is for your safety, other than that have fun, be safe and always have an exit plan/route if anything goes wrong.

 

[mickledore]

Way back in the 1970s and 1980s when this was the RAC Rally of Great Britain, the rally lasted 5 days. It went all over the country including Scotland and Wales. Two days continuous driving followed by a night off, then another two days continuous. Then another night off and a fast short final morning.
There was a whole caravan of supporters who took the week off to follow it round. Very few stages were announced in advance, but everyone seemed to know where they were. You just drove up some remote road, parked where you could and walked into the stage. Happy days.

Now it's controlled parking - at a cost. Controlled entry to a stage - at a cost. Stand here and nowhere else. The hi-viz jacket brigade must be rubbing their hands at all the rules they will be able to enforce.

Were there any accidents? None that I can remember. But elfinsafety and insurance rules now, and has spoiled it. I looked at going to Clocaenog, but it just ain't worth the hassle.

 

[DazJW]

Were there any accidents? None that I can remember.

In 1986 there was a hugely famous RS200 crash in Portugal with three dead and thirty-plus injured and most Group B documentaries feature drivers talking about clipping spectators as a matter of course - but recent UK ones are probably more relevant to how the GB event is currently handled:

In June this year three people died and one was seriously injured at a rally in the Scottish borders, with another incident during the same event where five people were hit by a car with one of those seriously injured.
Leading to it being cancelled next year.

In February 2013 someone was killed and another injured at a Scottish forest event.

In 2012 four people were hit by a car at a different Scottish forest event, one was airlifted to hospital.

In 2009 five people were hit by a car at an Oxfordshire event with one of them seriously injured.

That's just the first three pages of Google, without getting into events outside of the UK or into people who stand in bad places and get away with it. If you follow the WRC outside of the TV coverage there are always videos being passed around on Twitter during/after events showing people standing in really stupid places.

 

[mickledore]

Thank you. I suggest that all spectators and competitors are banned from Motorsport events. That will make everything totally safe.

 

[Daniel White]

Now it's controlled parking - at a cost. Controlled entry to a stage - at a cost. Stand here and nowhere else.The hi-viz jacket brigade must be rubbing their hands at all the rules they will be able to enforce.

Firstly if you are prepared to hike into a stage it can be done, and as for having jacket parade let's show a little more respect as these are volunteers there to enjoy it just like anyone else, yes they have guidelines and are responsible for spectators, they do have designated spectator zones but as for standing anywhere as long as your safely out of harms way then you can go pretty much anywhere.