RALLYING
It’s not unfair to say a large proportion of the rallying community was taken aback last Monday when Motorsport UK released its Getting Back on Track guidelines. By its very nature, rallying is a lot more nomadic than racing so it’s easy to see why it’s the more difficult code to resume in a more restricted society. Social distancing measures are what stage rallying’s return all hinges on. At present, co-drivers cannot feasibly join drivers in a competing car and that was the key point highlighted by Motorsport UK’S paper last week.
No co-drivers is an alarming headline but it’s a temporary measure that’s in response to advice and guidance offered by the government. Whenever social distancing measures relax, co-drivers will be back in. As one championship organiser put it: “It’s putting what we already knew into black and white.”
All the co-drivers Motorsport News contacted said they understood the decision. Tom Woodburn said: “Some people have sacrificed a lot to protect us, so I’m sure we can all last a couple of months longer.” Dale Bowen added that he respects Motorsport UK’S position. and Patrick Walsh thinks this is a good step forward but reckons a lot of competitors could head abroad this year – where restrictions are different – and wonders if some organisers will now see there is “life outside of the sport” and not have the appetite to organise events even next year in the potential aftermath.
So where does UK rallying go in the interim? That’s a more complex question and it’s where opinions begin to deviate. Rally time trials are a way around the no co-driver problem (see rally news) but not everyone can see the benefit.
One source told Motorsport News: “Considering we are in a very difficult financial position I am very surprised people are jumping at the chance to go and spend loads of money doing a driver-only rally at a test venue.”
An organiser also pointed out that most event stewards are over the age of 70 and should be shielding, which is an obvious hurdle for any potential events to overcome. While Steven Brown, a competitor and doctor, expressed his concerns about the scope for medical response and what using it could do for rallying’s public perception.
Competitor and organiser Tony Clements deduces: “The difficult but really sensible decision is to accept that it’s not going to be possible to maintain social distancing with motorsport and to effectively take the decision from the top that it isn’t going to happen this year.
There are realistically so many practical issues then you have to wonder if it’s what we should really be focusing on.”
But the counter argument is a return to competition helps keep the industry behind the sport afloat. As Matt Edwards put it: “If people aren’t out using rally cars, there is no motorsport industry.”
Such a lengthy pause isn’t healthy for cars either. John Stone has admitted he’s been running his Fiesta WRC up to temperature and through the gears on the axle stands so would appreciate the chance to use it in some sort of competition, but reiterated he is “confident that Motorsport UK are doing the best they can.”
As for stage rallies planned for later in the year, the jury is still out. Motorsport UK’S guidelines haven’t immediately cancelled them but all the same questions as before hang over these events.
Mull Rally clerk of the course Andy Jardine told MN: “Mull is five months away and anything could happen in five months. The other thing we’ve got to be aware of is we’re expecting a second wave and when does that hit? We could commit everything, and I’m talking money primarily, for something sudden to happen the first week in October, kaboom, it’s gone. And it’s whether we’re willing to take that risk.”