FIA to discuss Rally GB
The FIA is considering the future of Rally GB following the speeding fines recently issued to 17 drivers from the 2002 event. Colin McRae, Richard Burns, Carlos Sainz and Tommi Mäkinen were among those punished for offences dating back to last year.
A spokesman for the sport's governing body said: "The status of the Rally of Great Britain has been referred to the FIA's world motorsport council meeting on December 12."
He said a proposal had been made to downgrade the event to "observer status." In other words, the rally would no longer be part of the world championship.
The rally stages are run on Forestry Commission roads, but drivers are expected to abide by road laws on their way to and from stages.
Britain is not the only country to have issued fines for speeding on non-competitive sections. The same thing happened in New Zealand earlier this season.
There have been complaints from drivers and navigators about the length of road sections on more than one rally this year. Even on this year's running of Rally GB, Tommi Mäkinen (among others) nearly missed a stage check-in time.
Next year, the rally will run in September for the first time.
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