Radical starting plan proposed for 2002

The Council will meet on December 14 to vote on the plan, and if it is accepted, crews would start leg one of an event in world championship order, then for legs two and three the running order of the top 15 would be reversed.

The plan is designed to eliminate the tactics employed by some drivers on certain rallies where they deliberately slowed down to gain ideal road position for the next day. In events such as Cyprus and Australia, those drivers out first on the stage are penalised as they sweep the road clean for those behind.

"There were many ideas discussed," said a source at the commission meeting. "But the solution adopted was felt by the majority to be the simplest and the fairest."

A plan was introduced in this year's Rally Australia by allowing the rally leaders to choose their starting position for the next day, however this disadvantaged the smaller teams, such as Hyundai, who did not get a good road position on any day of the rally.