Jani Joensuu
Well-known member
Lähde: wrc.comFIA suggests 'retirement' plan
18/12/2003 11:45:57
The president of world rallying's governing body, the FIA, has put forward a plan to allow drivers who have retired from a rally to continue in the event.
Max Mosley thinks the idea would help spectators or television viewers to maintain an interest in an event that might, due to retirements, have become depleted.
"I'd like to see a situation where, if a car retires on the opening day, like Marcus Gronholm did on Wales Rally GB, he can still run and maintain the opportunity to win on the second or third days," he said.
"Rallying is a spectator sport," he added, "so what's the point in not allowing a car to run on the second or third day if it could have been fixed. You may not win the event but there could be a points system arranged to make this a viable option."
Double world champion Gronholm was sceptical about the idea, particularly in terms of making the sport easier to understand.
" It sounds a bit strange," he said. "You might think someone had retired but then be confused when they re-appeared on the stages."
WRC commercial boss David Richards thought that Mosley's idea would be "good for the television side of things to have the top drivers still running later in the event".
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