Move Rally GB to spring or autumn, says Reid

With a month of near-continuous rain in the build-up to the World Rally Championship finale, the forests of South Wales became quagmires in places. While this is seen by many as an intrinsic part of the event's challenge and character, several competitors have questioned the wisdom of running the Rally GB in late November.

"It's not much fun competing in these conditions," said Reid at the winners' press conference. "Spring or autumn would be better. Summer would be as bad as winter because we'd swap mud problems for the dangers of dust."

Should the event be moved for 2002 - and rumours persist that that will happen - an autumn slot would appear the best option to guarantee good stage conditions. This year's British Grand Prix was held in an Easter slot, but also suffered badly from mud and rain: public car parks at Silverstone had to be closed for qualifying as continuing rain threatened to render them unuseable.

The conditions on this year's Rally GB claimed several high-profile victims, including rally leader Colin McRae. After rolling his Ford out of the lead on the second running of the Rheola stage on Saturday afternoon, the former world champion called for the forest stages to be used only once. The Scot blamed ruts from the first running of the stage for his accident.

To read more from the Rally GB winners' press conference click here.