I'd be shocked if it hadn't been pulled already because someone died in the incident and you can see him on the video. The spectator (actually a photographer, I think) could be seen falling back down the hill and landing on the road after apparently being thrown up and against the rocks when the Hyundai hit him. From the onboard video you could also see him crouched next to the road just before the car lost control and he was definitely in an unsafe location. If you look again at this pic, you'll see people focusing on the ground next to the car. The crew are still inside and safe, the focus is on the spectator.
Meh, I didn't know either when I posted it. Pulled would have been the result eventually even without the spectator aspect. They would have had it pulled merely because it was a clip lifted from broadcast, a clear copyright issue and they have a right to have it pulled down if they care...and they do. If taken by a freelance, they'd have no control.
There was a period where the true fate of that spectator was unknown, with accounts varying from "passed out and being cared for" to dead, but he did die. I'll update my post again. I feel sorry for all involved but can't imagine what Paddon must feel knowing if they can fix up his car he'll have to get back in already tomorrow and drive again on similar roads after (accidentally) killing someone.
There were only 2 stages scheduled today and the first was cancelled so the results are all based on Stage 2.
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYdQ9Aman2w"]85° Rallye Monte Carlo 2017 - Day 1 [HD] - YouTube[/ame] I think the car at 3:02+ in this one is a Fiat 124. Hard to be sure in the dark but it's def not a hatchback. [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5HLKQLohhY"]Rallye Monte Carlo 2017 stage 2 - YouTube[/ame]
I don't know how many years ago it was, but Monte lost its WCR accreditation because of foolish spectator behavior. I'm not calling this poor soul a fool & am very sorry he lost his life. It does make me wonder though. Hyundia pulling the car makes perfect sense. Edit.... Just saw the video, a brutal hit. On the outside of the corner in harms way, such a waste. I wonder if he was a spectator or accredited press shooter?
I feel like it wasn't the spectator deaths that killed Group B, it was the loss of Henri Toivonen & Sergio Cresto that drove the final nail into the Group B coffin. RIP
Ogier had a little trouble on the opening stage today. "In a very icy junction, I don’t know what happened. The car didn’t turn, I slid into the ditch & I was stuck. Not the start we wanted" [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dga1hCSBi-s"]WRC - Rallye Monte-Carlo 2017: OGIER in ditch (SS3) - YouTube[/ame]
Meeke went off on Stage 4 and suffered suspension damage. Couldn't continue. [ame]https://twitter.com/CitroenRacing/status/822490715473276928[/ame]
Yes, I am now posting Tweets directly from Twitter. A lot of short videos are posted that way and extracting the videos is not an option here but if there's an embedded video in a Tweet you can just click the arrow to watch, can even go full screen on most. [ame]https://twitter.com/NickTrott27/status/822500978264043522[/ame]
That crash was horrible, there was nothing that could have been to save those two. And then the spectators being killed in Portugal, the last nail. You are right.
If you have seen the pictures of those crazy folks in Portugal it is a wonder that dozens weren't killed over the years. I read a quote years ago from Michele Mouton after she won the Portugal rally. When asked how she could drive that fast with all of those spectators lining the roads she answered "you don't think of them as people, you think of them as trees". I'm paraphrasing here.
Meeke took an even bigger hit than I thought. [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvMcgirv-Ho"]CRASH Kris Meeke - Rallye de Monte Carlo 2017 - YouTube[/ame]