FIA may axe Monte Carlo Rally

FIA safety officials advised the organisers that crowds were at a dangerously high level prior to the start of the sixth stage and the test was then scrapped.

Had the organisers left it at that, things would have been fine but the following day the Automobile Club of Monaco put out a press release that effectively called into question the FIA Safety Delegate's handling of the matter.

The FIA Rallies Commission met recently to discuss the issues raised by the incident.

It reccommended htat the ACM be reported to the FIA World Council, the sport's rule makers, with a possible penalty of suspension from the series for a year.

Monte Carlo Rally Clerk of the Course Rene Isoart allegedly stormed out of the meeting protesting that his event had been prejudged.

It is believed that the event has a month in which to persuade the governing body not to impose sanctions or, at least, to consider a lesser penalty.

The rally enjoys glamour status far beyond its level of organisational quality and it knows that few manufacturers would whole heartedly vote to expel one of the few events known to the 'man in the street'.

This feeling of invincibility has allowed the event to ignore the FIA on other matters such as route planning and, perhaps this will prove to have been one occasion too many.