Latest news with #rallydrivers
BBC News
10 hours ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
The town centre that turns into a 100mph racetrack
For one night each year, the normally quiet main street of Dunoon is transformed into a seaside town's Argyll Street and surrounding roads are closed, and rally drivers from across the UK take their turn racing around them reaching speeds of up to Argyll Rally is currently Scotland's only motor sporting event that sees racing take part on a town centre event returns this weekend for its fifth year and this time the start list features five local teams who have been inspired to take up the sport due to the local event. On a normal day, if 37-year-old Matt Youden saw a car speeding through Dunoon, he'd be forced to take action as a local police this weekend it is his turn to told BBC Scotland News: "When you're in a rally car, strapped in with your helmet on, it's a totally different feeling to driving about in my normal 4x4 car."It certainly is a wee bit different to going for your morning rolls."Matt grew up around rally driving as his dad used to race, but it wasn't until he was stationed in Dunoon he decided to take up the hobby for action takes place over two days. As well as the Dunoon town centre stage, drivers race on routes in some of the Cowal peninsula's most scenic locations including routes in Glendaruel and said he doesn't pay much attention to the speedometer during a race, but he expects to reach speeds of up to if the adrenaline is comparable to a high-speed police chase, Matt replied: "No, because there's usually a lot of paperwork at the end of that." The town's veteran racer is David Robertson, 53, who is competing for the third and raised in Dunoon, he took up rally driving as a result of watching the event and said racing in his home town was special."I wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't for the Argyll Rally coming to the town," David told BBC Scotland News."You know, the feeling of everybody cheering you when you come round that first corner. It's just special, it brings a tear to your eye."The rules state local drivers aren't supposed to try out the routes prior to a pre-arranged recce before the event - to make sure they aren't given an unfair David, a local courier, spends every day driving on Dunoon's roads, so he feels like he knows the roads like the back of his said this is a bonus, but driving in his van is completely different to his Ford Fiesta rally car."Every time I come up Argyll Street street, I'm analysing the road, thinking about what's the quickest line," he said."When I'm working, I'll spot a pothole and think, I'll need to watch out for that on rally night."He is piloted by his wife Jen, who gives him instructions throughout the race. As well as locals, over 100 of the country's fastest drivers head to the region for the draws hundreds of spectators but some locals aren't in favour of the event saying it is unsafe and road closures are say that strict safety protocols are implemented to ensure the safety of drivers and spectators, and the event is good for the local Moulson from Dunoon Presents told BBC Scotland News the event was worth around £500,000 to the local area through visitor spend, and it has a "tangible community feel" to it.
Japan Times
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Japan Times
FIA reduces penalty for swearing after driver backlash
The maximum penalties for drivers swearing has been reduced by 50%, while stewards will also be given more discretion on deciding penalties, the governing FIA said on Wednesday. Competitors in Formula One and rallying have been at loggerheads with FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem over a crackdown on bad language during events. Ben Sulayem said last month that he was considering "improvements" to the rules. World championship rally drivers made a breakthrough in April when they reached a compromise to divide events into a controlled zone and an uncontrolled one, with the change now being implemented across all events sanctioned by the FIA. The FIA said the base maximum penalty has been reduced from €10,000 ($11,214) to €5,000 ($5,598), while stewards will have the option to fully suspend a penalty if it is the first offense by a driver or a team. Moreover, stewards will be able to differentiate between "controlled and non-controlled environments." Controlled environments include news conferences while tracks or rally stages are uncontrolled environments. "As a former rally driver, I know firsthand the range of emotions that are faced during competition," said Ben Sulayem, who is up for reelection at the end of the year. "I have led an extensive and collaborative review with contributions from across the seven FIA World Championships, FIA Member Clubs and other motorsports organizations. "The improvements the FIA has announced today to Appendix B will ensure we continue to promote the best of sportsmanship in motor sport, while also giving stewards effective guidelines to act against individuals who may bring the sport into disrepute." Appendix B covers stewards' penalty guidelines, setting out punishments for misconduct including words, deeds or writings that might have caused moral injury to the FIA or motorsports in general. Mitigating circumstances will also be considered, while the abuse of officials will now result in sporting penalties instead of fines. Formula One Stewards Chair Garry Connelly said the new changes would give stewards guidance to "differentiate between on- and off-track issues." "Drivers are looked up to as role models by young fans and are rightly seen as ambassadors for the wider world of motorsport," said Ronan Morgan, president of the Drivers' Committee. "How they act really does matter, but it is important to recognize that there is a difference between what is said during a race and in a press conference." Last season, Red Bull's Max Verstappen was punished for his language in a news conference at the Singapore Grand Prix in September. Meanwhile, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was fined €10,000 ($11,214) for swearing at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
The Independent
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
FIA announces change to controversial F1 swearing rules after just six races
Formula 1 has relaxed rules on the use of foul language just six races into the 2025 season, with the maximum penalties for drivers swearing reduced by 50% and stewards will given more discretion on deciding penalties. Competitors in F1 and rallying have been at loggerheads with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem over a crackdown on bad language during events. Ben Sulayem said last month that he was considering "improvements" to rules. World championship rally drivers had made a breakthrough in April when they reached a compromise to divide events into a controlled zone and an uncontrolled one, with the change now being implemented across all events sanctioned by the FIA. The FIA said the base maximum penalty has been reduced from €10,000 (£8,430) to €5,000 (£4,210) while stewards will have the option to fully suspend a penalty if it is the first offence by a driver or a team. Moreover, stewards will be able to differentiate between "controlled and non-controlled environments". Controlled environments include press conferences while tracks or rally stages are uncontrolled environments. "As a former rally driver, I know firsthand the range of emotions that are faced during competition," said Ben Sulayem, who is up for re-election at the end of the year. "I have led an extensive and collaborative review with contributions from across the seven FIA World Championships, FIA Member Clubs and other motor sports organisations. "The improvements the FIA has announced today to Appendix B will ensure we continue to promote the best of sportsmanship in motor sport, while also giving stewards effective guidelines to act against individuals who may bring the sport into disrepute." Appendix B covers stewards' penalty guidelines, setting out punishments for misconduct including words, deeds or writings that might have caused moral injury to the FIA or motorsport in general. Mitigating circumstances will also be considered while the abuse of officials will now result in sporting penalties instead of fines. Formula 1 Stewards Chair Garry Connelly said the new changes would give stewards guidance to "differentiate between on- and off-track issues". "Drivers are looked up to as role models by young fans and are rightly seen as ambassadors for the wider world of motor sport," said Ronan Morgan, president of the Drivers' Committee. "How they act really does matter but it is important to recognise that there is a difference between what is said during a race and in a press conference." Last season, Red Bull's triple world champion Max Verstappen was punished for his language in a press conference at the Singapore Grand Prix in September.
