Organisers hail Rally GB

Instead the heavens opened resulting in conditions similar to those that can be experienced in November - soggy, muddy roads with cars sliding left, right and centre - which caused many a driver to have a grumble or two about the slippery and 'treacherous' routes.

Rally GB boss Andrew Coe pointed out that all the administration and organisation in the run-up to the event and during the weekend itself worked as planned, and that the rally was one of only two this year to boast a full entry list.

"This year's event was always going to be a new experience - for the organisation, the competitors and spectators alike," said Coe. "We're therefore delighted that the event went extremely smoothly. This gives us a very strong foundation for next year, when we will again be in a similar September date."

Those who went to the event commented that the usual atmosphere was missing. Rally winner Petter Solberg (Subaru) believed this was because there are still four races left to contest rather than a change in date.

"The weather was just the same as usual," he said. "As for the lack of atmosphere, maybe that's more to do with it not being the final round of the championship than not being in November."