Shaun Hattersley

We (normally 2 of us) decided not to attend this year due to the ever increasing costs (read on to appreciate) and the much publicised spectator restrictions. I'm very interested in the "real" fans experiences and views, forums such as this one are invaluable for that. The national motoring press are just not going to tell the truth if it flies in the face of what the FIA or the manufacturers want etc.

I appreciate and accept that the Rally GB has got to change and move forward, I just think that the changes need to be minor and made in such a way that the rally maintains it's individual character and "grass roots" support. What I've seen and heard, over the past few years and this one particularly, just isn't the case. The event is being steam-rollered by the commercial requirements / constraints of the "sport" AKA "business". Ticketing seems simply like it is still a shambles?

RE: Costs - As you know we went to Sweden 2002 and also made the trip over to Germany in the summer. Now everything wasn't well planned and slick as you would expect from the Germans - ask anyone trying to get on the official Rally camp sites - but we had an excellent time like we have had on the Rally GB (RAC) for over 10 years. We could get to all the stages and had a lot of flexibility in spectator locations etc (as per the 2001 Rally GB) and the "grandstands" were available to those that wanted an F1 type WRC experience, but you could also get to some decent corners in safety. We had a good crack with the other spectators, never seen as many sporty Octavia's! A top event, closest one to home outside Blighty (actually Sweden may be closer for us Northerners?) and in Summer! And how much to spectate the whole event? The whole weekends rallying, 7 stages and visit to the service park cost us £18.00!!!! What was the Rally GB price?

My money stayed with me in November and will be going towards trips to Sweden and Germany again this year. Now what has that done for the Rally GB and the Welsh economy?

Shaun

PS - To say that the WRC is being shaped around the TV/Commercial side of sport, the coverage was terrible. If you had not been a WRC fan you would have thought Citroen were not in the event until the last day. The coverage is limited to the top 6 positions only. Juha Kankkunen and Kenneth Eriksson fans must have been gutted - they potentially ended their WRC careers on the Rally GB and got less attention than an Italian biker and an F1 "has-been". All this and we're constantly told that the Rally GB is the UK's most popular sporting event? Your average Div 1 football match gets as much coverage every week.

PPS - After saying all that I was gutted when Petter won his first WRC event and I was at home waiting for text messages. THAT WILL TEACH ME!