What did drivers say?
"Coming into the last couple of kilometers there must have been 5000 fans in open fields, it would be really hard to control the spectators in that scenario - it was definitely the right decision this morning."- Kris Meeke, Toyota driver
But is it a reason to cancel the stage? It seemed to be a very inadequate situation for the first time, I thought it's uncontrolled: people jumping out on the road and safety rules were forgotten.
However, there wasn't the same. Everything that I got by social messages was looking peacefully quiet.
Yes, I agree with Kris Meeke about dangerous for and of the large crowd people; any unforeseen circumstances are possible.
Yes, I agree, but isn't the first and the main organizer's responsibility? The safety ensuring and proper conducting of sports races. Isn't?
Same time a huge number of drivers always been advertising by PR - managers. Don't you want to get close to them when you see all those press conferences?
Don't you want to be closer?
What else could we do? Let's be logical!
We could take at least 30 minutes for a break first of all. It would be possible to work with people during this time: to inform fans about the danger. I'm sure it was. But I'm talking about the serious warning. There were a lot of working personnel in Monte Carlo; there were helicopters; there were cars in Monte Carlo. But, we decided to cancel the stage.
Secondly: it would be possible to let the safety car with the same personnel. We like rally races because of driving conditions. We could set something like yellow flags speed limits. Could we ask drivers to slow down for 10 seconds? We can't let the race to be a staged show where everything is going by the scenario in advance.
"It doesn't matter in Sweden if they cancel one stage - everybody will be with the same tyres anyway." - Tommi Makinen, Toyota World Rally Championship team principal On the one hand, we see persons advertised by media which one is pushing the situation. The organization that hired the media and trying to fight with this popularity by the other side!
In this regard, I have a question: Dear Motorsports organisers! Maybe we should be focusing on the races at first? Maybe we need more time to devote not to press conferences with drivers, but the organization of security and fans comfort with safety?
Agree? Why yes, why not?