Rally - Day 1 in Oz

At the end of Day 1 on the Coates Hire Rally Australia, there were 3 Volkswagens in the top four places - and one Citroen! Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle finished the day in second place just 2 seconds off the pace of rally leader, Jari Matti Latvala.

Despite a few overnight showers in the area, the roads were dry by Friday morning. During a series of three brand new tests, Kris Meeke established himself in the top three. He then won the longest stage of the morning (SS4, Newry Long), meaning that he headed for midday service as the overall leader.

In the afternoon, the conditions changed. With the racing lines partially swept clear of dust, Kris had to defend his position as the earlier starters began to make up ground. Overall leader ahead of the day’s final stage, he ended the leg in second overall, just two seconds behind Jari-Matti Latvala after having been held up by the hanging dust on his run.

Kris commented: “I’m pleased with my day. We took advantage of our starting position this morning to make a good start to the rally. We lost first place on the final stage of the day, but I couldn’t do much more to defend the position, given the dust clouds that reduced our visibility. There will be more sweeping tomorrow. We’ll see how the rally goes, bearing in mind that the most important thing is to make it to the finish and be consistent. If the opportunity

presents itself, then we’ll try to fight for the win.”

Three weeks after making his competitive debut in the DS 3 WRC at Rallye Deutschland, Stéphane Lefebvre was back in action the main WRC squad, but hit a rock and was forced to retire. He will rejoin the rally today (Saturday) and will be first on the road.

Leaderboard after Day 1:

1. Jari-Matti Latvala / Miikka Anttila (Volkswagen Polo R WRC) 1:15:29.1
2. Kris Meeke / Paul Nagle (DS 3 WRC) +2.0
3. Sébastien Ogier / Julien Ingrassia (Volkswagen Polo R WRC) +4.6
4. Andreas Mikkelsen / Ola Floene (Volkswagen Polo R WRC) +12.9
5. Dani Sordo / Marc Marti (Hyundai i20 WRC) +15.9
6. Hayden Paddon / John Kennard (Hyundai i20 WRC) +25.5
7. Thierry Neuville / Nicolas Gilsoul (Hyundai i20 WRC) +37.2
8. Ott Tanak / Raigo Molder (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +40.2
9. Elfyn Evans / Daniel Barritt (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +2:21.8
10. Lorenzo Bertelli / Lorenzo Granai (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +3:37.9...
17. Stéphane Lefebvre / Stéphane Prévot (DS 3 WRC) +11:25.5

Road - Happiness is ...

Happiness is ... a day off, fine weather, the open road, Scottish scenery - and a bike. It's passed its MOT for another year!

 

FIA acts on Rally safety

Jean Todt, FIA President, yesterday chaired an extraordinary meeting with the Presidents of the FIA Commissions involved in rally safety.

Those in attendance included:
- Gérard Saillant, Medical Commission
- Ari Vatanen, Closed Road Commission
- Carlos Barbosa, WRC Commission
- Peter Wright, Safety Commission
- Arman Barfull, Rally Commission
- Richard Schilling, Cross Country Rally Commission
- Carlos Gracia Fuertes, President, RFEDA (Spanish ASN)
- Michèle Mouton, WRC Manager

As part of the meeting, the recent tragic accidents in all levels of rallying were reviewed.

Following this process, the meeting assessed a range of new measures that could support and strengthen the efforts of organisers regarding the safety of spectators, drivers and officials.

As a result of that assessment, the FIA will develop a comprehensive action plan that will incorporate:

1. Reinforcement to all authorities responsible for the organisation of rallies of the heightened danger in running rallies outside of the basic framework of the FIA guidelines for spectator and vehicle safety.

2. In conjunction with National Sport Authorities (ASNs) and rally organisers, introduce measures seeking to increase the reach and impact of educational programmes for spectator safety.

3. The creation of a dedicated task force of FIA experts, which will be available to support ASNs and rally organisers and assist them in the implementation of the preferred Safety guidelines.

The aim of the action plan is to have a positive influence in rally safety around the world, from local grass roots events through to the pinnacle of the sport at World Rally Championship level.

At the recent Rallye Deutschland, the FIA released a safety video encouraging all rally spectators to be aware of their role in safely attending events.

The video can be seen here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IshXBw3yPzI

Rally - RallyFuture

The MSA has today published its latest report on progress being made towards compliance with the requirements of the Motor Sports Safety Review Group. They’ve also come up with a new name and a new logo under which progress across a number of organisational and spectatorial issues are being addressed and implemented.

What it doesn’t do is detail the immense amount of additional work being undertaken by amateur rally organisers right across the country who are endeavouring to comply with the new rules and trying to cope with the increased workload.

And as the sport approaches the end of the first year of this ‘new regime’ there are still many folk out there who think the future of rallying is safe and that it will all blow over next year. Nae chance!

If you simply read the contents of the MSA report it doesn’t sound as though much has changed or much needs to change, but behind the scenes there has been huge turmoil at club and regional association level right across the country.

It’s not just a question of implementing these new rules, they will have to continue next year - and be seen to be continuing.  The Scottish Government has been intrinsically involved at all stages of the process this year and will continue to oversee progress next year to assure themselves that the sport has taken note and is working towards full compliance.

If the sport gets a Report Card from the teacher this year, then it should get a nice big ‘Tick’ in the box,  but if standards slip next year it will be a big ‘X’, and that will signal the end of multi-venue rallying in this country as we know it.

The vast majority of spectators have also been heeding the new rules, but clubs can’t afford to let standards slip next year. A culture change is required in how folk attend and watch rallies. They might not like it, but most of them understand why it is being done and progress is encouraging.

Their support continues to be essential just as clubs need more manpower and rallying needs more marshals.

The sport isn’t out of the woods yet !!

Full MSA Release here:

http://www.jaggybunnet.co.uk/2015/09/03-sep-rally-safety-msa-update/

Rally - Welsh McRae tribute

There is an old saying, “a picture is worth 1,000 words”. No doubt motor sports journalists and photographers will have their own view on the veracity of such a claim, but there are instances where the suggestion simply cannot be disputed.

Over the years millions of words have been written about Colin McRae but few have truly captured the essence of the man. How can mere words do justice to such a talent? How can writers express the sheer speed, the total commitment and the absolute flair of the man behind the wheel?

Impossible. This is where photographs excel and excite. Capturing a moment of pure pleasure or sheer brilliance, breath taking flamboyance or heart breaking disaster. Words can set the scene and explain the circumstances but pictures do it better than print. At least most of the time. Pictures can’t record the private words or pithy comments, the banter or the cursing. We depend on those who were there to tell us and help us conjure up our own images in our own imagination.

Stirring those memories, this year’s Wales Rally GB will be celebrating Colin McRae and Derek Ringer’s 20th anniversary of their historic rally victory and World title winning season climax.

Mind you, it will be interesting to see if they can beat Knockhill’s tribute just a couple of months back!

Full story here:
http://www.jaggybunnet.co.uk/2015/09/7645/

Rally - Bears on stage

You’ve got to hand it to The Bears, they ain’t afraid of nuthin’. Next month’s Colin McRae Stages Rally organised by Coltness Car Club will test a radical new format, starting at 12 noon on Saturday and finishing at 12 noon-ish on Sunday with an overnight halt and ‘entertainment’.

A lot of people think the idea of a two day event with an overnight halt is daft. No doubt a few competitors will moan that they could do the rally in a single day by booking early morning scrutineering and travelling to the event even earlier! For the majority, it still means only one night away.

Full marks for trying it though and it’s only by trying will the sport find out if the idea works and is popular. No doubt there will also be a few spectators who don’t like the idea, but given the implementation of new rules, spectating opportunities are already becoming much more restricted.

There is another reason for the format. The bears have personally extended a very kind and courteous invitation (how could anyone refuse?) to two rather special guests for their Saturday evening ‘Rally Forum’.  In addition to the expected line-up of rallyists both the Scottish Government appointed Civil Servant tasked with overseeing the Motor Sport Safety Review Group and the recently appointed Safety Delegate have agreed to appear on the panel to explain the new requirements and to take questions from the floor.

By hosting this unique gathering on the Saturday evening mid way through the rally, it should ensure a good attendance of competitors and if they don’t attend and start bleating about new rules and restrictions next year, then who can they blame?

And if the audience gets rowdy, just remember who’s running the show. The Bears are not to be trifled with fed on a distinctly Lanarkshire diet of Tunnocks teacakes and Irn Bru - so who needs ‘energy drinks’?

As for the picture, that shows last year’s winners, but who is the chap sneaking up in the background and what is he up to?

http://www.jaggybunnet.co.uk/2015/09/01-sep-big-change-for-mcrae-rally/