Video from 2011: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbDI4qi99xc]WRC Rally Acropolis Greece 2011 (HD) - YouTube[/ame]
Those spectators are just, plain crazy. I wounder how many have been killed or injured over the years. :nonod: Spectators At the 1978 Safari Rally, five by-passers and four spectators were killed in unrelated accidents, both involving non-competitive drivers crashing into competitors.[6] On the first stage of the 1986 Rally Portugal, Joaquim Santos lost control of his Ford RS200 while trying to avoid spectators on the road, crashing into a "human wall" of spectators, killing three and injuring over thirty.[7] All the factory teams – Audi, Austin Rover, Ford, Lancia, Peugeot and Volkswagen – withdrew from the event.[8] At the 1995 Rally of the Thousand Lakes, at a special stage Hassi one spectator died when Belgian Bruno Thiry, driving 0-car, ran over her. According to some reports the spectator was unable to hear Thiry's car coming because of the crowd noise and relatively low sound of the car compared to full WRC vehicles. At the 1996 Rally of the Thousand Lakes, at the famous special stage Harju that took place in the centrum of "Rally Capital" Jyväskylä, one spectator died and 36 injured when Danish Kristen Rikhard lost control of his Mitsubishi Lancer due to too high speed and wrong driving line. Rikhard, car number 65, reached the curve at 120 km/h (approximately 75 mph), finally hitting the crowd at 40 km/h although the audience had placed within safe distance to road.[9] Jim
You're not wrong but it's a different kind of crazy these days. I understand there were rallies in the past where the fans would crowd so close they would effectively narrow the road because they were trying to touch the cars as they went by. :crazy:
Is it still dangerous? Yes, very. Here's an example. No spectators injured in this one but it's a very recent rally with drivers in real peril. Description from AutoGuide.com: "All forms of motorsports are dangerous, but rally is more so with races sometimes occurring in tight, windy roads in a natural environment. That means trees and lakes are always by a race car’s side, and so are spectators. Out at the 2012 Mazowiecki Rally, a Renault Clio flipped over and landed into a lake upside-down, trapping both driver and passenger under water. And unlike traditional forms of motorsports, race officials in rally races aren’t everywhere, and can’t be anywhere quickly, which meant driver Patrick Osowiecki and navigator Maciej Wrona were strapped into their bucket seats taking in water. Thankfully their spectators had no reservations in hopping into the lake to save the driver and passenger. Several fans quickly jumped in helping Osowiecki and Wrona get free from what could’ve been a worse situation. Watch the dramatic rescue ..." [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS1DTOabZfA]10 Rajd Mazowiecki 2012 | Wodowanie Renault Clio | Akcja ratunkowa - YouTube[/ame]
Michelle Mouton after winning Portugal was asked how she could drive so fast with spectators lining the roads inches from her car. She replied that you must think of them as trees not people. Spectators are a strange lot. They are not as crazy as they once were, but the inevitable still happens sometimes with tragic results.
But, as in that case, the spectators seem to help, as well as cause problems. Helpful "trees" perhaps. Jim
Solberg tops Qualifying Stage in Greece (WRC.com) Ford aces select lowly Acropolis start positions (WRC.com)
Video from the shakedown: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I7pe0W5Uwg]Shakedown - 2012 Acropolis Rally of Greece - Best-of-RallyLive.com - YouTube[/ame]
Only one stage today. SS1: Latvala flies on WRC comeback (WRC.com) Solberg wasn't kidding about his soft tire choice being a poor decision. Here's all that's left of the tread on one of his rears after only one stage.
Thanks to seasonal rains the Greek rally is (so far) NOT the dusty, rocky mess it usually is...it's a muddy, rocky (and occasionally dusty) mess. :biggrin5: